36 arrested, 3 FIRs filed after Kanpur violence

|HT|

Thirty-six people have been arrested and three FIRs (first information reports) filed after violence between members of a minority community and the police in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur on Friday, said Police Commissioner, Vijay Singh Meena. "More people are being identified on the basis of the video (footage)," he said, "Action (will be taken against conspirators under Gangster Act and their property will be seized or demolished." “We've briefed personnel to be alert at their locations. We're also doing a route march and patrolling to build confidence among the public. Situation is under control… traffic is functioning regularly. There are no issues," Vijay Meena said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath met district police chiefs via video conference late Friday night and directed Kanpur officers to identify those responsible and take strict action. He also asked for increased police deployment in affected areas and regular patrols in all sensitive areas of Kanpur district.

The incident began as members of a minority community observed a bandh and took out a procession after Friday prayers to protest a BJP spokesperson's allegedly insulting remark about Prophet Mohammad. Unconfirmed reports said some protesters threw crude bombs at the police. Police had to use teargas to disperse the mob and also resorted to aerial firing. A senior police officer was among the six injured.

The violence broke out as prime minister Narendra Modi, president Ram Nath Kovind and Yogi Adityanath were all in Kanpur, and less than 100 km away.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) condemned the violence and urged people to maintain peace.

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