E-Paper
Skirmishes mar closure call
THE CLOSURE call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in protest against serial blasts in Varanasi evoked a mixed response despite forced closure of markets by party activists.
THE CLOSURE call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in protest against serial blasts in Varanasi evoked a mixed response despite forced closure of markets by party activists.
Markets and commercial establishments in the walled city remained closed for four to five hours, those in southern areas were opened in defiance of the call.
There were reports of clashes between BJP-VHP activists and Bajrang Dal supporters with traders, who were reluctant to close shops, in the walled city.
Several shops which were open in Naveen Market were damaged by the BJP activists. Treat Restaurant in Naveen Market, which was open in the morning, was ransacked by BJP activists, while Cafe Coffee Day at Somdutt Plaza was also forcibly closed by BJP leaders.
Clashes between BJP supporters and police personnel were reported from Baradevi crossing when the former were trying to forcibly ensure closure of shops. BJP leaders and traders also clashed at Generalganj and Hatia when the former were trying to enforce the closure call.
The BJP procession started from the party office at Naveen Market at 11 am led by party district president (north) Rakesh Sonkar. An effigy of terrorism was also torched by BJP activists at Shikshak park.
The mob forced closure of shops at Nayaganj, Birhana Road, Ghantaghar, PPN Market and Naveen Market including several other areas of the city. However, the vigilant district administration and timely action by police personnel prevented the situation from getting out of control.
The road leading towards Meston Road from Kotwali police station was barricaded to stop movement of traffic and BJP leaders moving towards communally sensitive Moolganj and Meston Road area. Similarly, the road leading towards Nai Sadak was also barricaded to prevent any untoward incident.
A heavy cordon of police was thrown over specially in densely populated areas of the city and areas having mixed population of Hindus and Muslims. A joint team of circle officers and additional city magistrate along with a videographer was deployed in communally sensitive areas of the city to maintain round-the-cloak vigil.
In areas of mixed population leaders of both Hindus and Muslims were summoned by the district administration and requested to keep a watch in their respective areas and solicit the help of district administration if necessary.
