75 arrested, curfew continues in Bareilly, Aonla

After day-long skirmishes between rival, sides which left one dead and 20 injured, communal rioting came to an end on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh's Barielly, about 250 km from Lucknow.

The clash took place in the town on Monday, following some altercation between Muslims observing Ramzan and Hindu 'kanwarias' taking out their 'sawan' (rainy season) processions.

Among the 20 injured was Superintendent of Police (city) Shiv Sagar Singh and seven other cops, besides 12 local residents belonging to both the communities.

Alarmed by the outbreak of Monday's rioting, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav rushed Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Jagmohan Yadav, who camped in the town to personally supervise the police operation.

"So far 75 people, including 35 in Bareilly and 40 in Aonla have been arrested in connection with clashes on Sunday and Monday," Additional Director General of Police Jagmohan Yadav said.

While admitting that one person had died of bullet injury, Yadav told rediff.com, "We were still trying to figure out whether the person was killed in an exchange of fire between rival groups or in police firing that was resorted to in order to bring the situation under control."

The injured were rushed to hospital, where one Imran of Rolitola in Baradari area died due to gun shot injuries.

He said that a high-level inquiry would be conducted into the clashes. The ADG said that a ban would be imposed on use of DJs and loud speakers in religious functions from now on.

Barielly District Magistrate Manish Chauhan said, "While initial violence was sparked off in Shahbad area of the town, it spread to other localities, following which curfew was clamped in several parts of the city."

He admitted that arson and vandalism did cause damage to some private property but claimed, "The situation is now well under control."

"Curfew has been imposed in six areas, including Qila, Kotwali, Bardari, Prem Nagar, Subhash Nagar and Aonla," IG (law and order) B P Singh had told reporters in Lucknow.

He said that along with local police 12 companies of PAC, two companies of BSF and one company Rapid Action Force have been deployed to control the situation.

He said that a 45-year-old man was seriously injured in fresh violence and was admitted to a hospital in Bareilly.

"Four PAC personnel and five policemen, including SP Shiv Sagar Singh, also sustained pellet injuries last night", he said.

With inputs from PTI