Continue with bulldozer action, says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath
However, even as properties of some accused were razed in a few districts, the CM said that no action should be taken against any poor family."Bulldozers are being used against history sheeters and mafia. Under no circumstances should a poor be targeted. If by chance a poor family has constructed their home in an inappropriate place, then the administration should first find them an alternative accommodation before taking any action," the CM said.
The use of bulldozers was hailed with many in the government even using footage of action as a "befitting reply". Advisor to the CM, Mrityunjay Kumar, tweeted that rowdy elements should remember that "there is always a Saturday after each Friday", referring to the protest and the action taken by government on the following day. MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi's tweet on a video of police beating up an accused with caption 'Return Gift for Protesters', led to a massive debate on social media.
During Saturday evening's video conference with divisional commissioners and senior police officers, CM said that the violence on Friday had earlier been attempted in Kanpur on June 3. Directing officials to take strict action against the accused, he said: "Those who indulged in violence should be made to pay for the damage to property. The process of sending recovery notices has started in Prayagraj. It should similarly be started in other districts at the earliest. Strictest action should be taken in this regard," he said.
"There should be zero-tolerance policy against those making mischievous statements. Police and administration have taken effective action against anti-social elements. At present the situation is under control, but we have to be ready for any situation. Police and administration will have to be in alert mode 24x7," the CM said.
Yogi said this time the culprits used minor children for their purpose, and therefore, it was necessary to identify the main conspirators. As citizens of a democratic country, he added, it was necessary for the government to maintain dialogue with both sides and take action against the culprits to deter anyone thinking of taking such a step in future.
"Officers in the field should have the power to take decisions in order to be able to maintain law and order. If you perceive that the situation may deteriorate in some district in the coming days, implement section 144 there. Additional police force should be deployed in sensitive areas. Police should carry out foot patrolling every evening," the CM said.
Minors found involved in protests, stone-pelting: UP cops
Initial investigations into the Friday violence and protests reveal that minors were also involved in stone-pelting incidents in several places, including Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Ambedkarnagar and Moradabad.
Additional director general of police (law and order) Prashant Kumar citing reports from district police chiefs, said instances of minors being involved in violence that erupted after Friday prayers have come to the fore.
"Credentials of identified minor accused are being verified by the police to find out if they have a checkered past," he said.
"We are also probing the larger conspiracy to stoke the violence in the state," he said.
Moradabad SP Hemant Kutiyal said that police have invoked relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act against about 50 unidentified minors who have been booked.
"We are first identifying the minors and teenagers who indulged in pelting stones at the police teams and sloganeering despite appeals from the police teams on Friday. Investigation will also be done first to known whether they are locals, and secondly, if any allurement was made to them," he said. Kutiyal also added that appeals have been made to all the religious leaders after the violence.
Similarly, in Saharanpur, the SSP said over 100 teenagers could be spotted on CCTVs indulging in stone-pelting. "We have also booked unidentified teenagers protesting and raising slogans despite cops on the spot dissuading them to do so," he said. Similar reports have been received from Prayagraj as well.
ADG, Prayagraj zone, Prem Prakash, told reporters that the crowd had been dispersed following the Friday prayers by the cops. But children, teenagers equipped with stones and covered faces started emerging and raising slogans. Thereafter, the appeals made by the cops to go inside their homes were not adhered to and they started pelting stones.
"Police exercised maximum restraint as a significant number of kids were involved. They were pelting stones intermittently. Mischievous elements incited kids based on faith and pushed them to attack," said Prakash.
In Ambedkarnagar, police said that an imam was seen inciting a crowd of teenagers to protest and raise slogans. He was immediately arrested from the spot.
LUCKNOW: In the wake of Friday's violence in some parts of the state, chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting on law and order on Saturday and directed officials to continue with "bulldozer action" against criminals and also collect information on their illegal funds and sources of income.However, even as properties of some accused were razed in a few districts, the CM said that no action should be taken against any poor family."Bulldozers are being used against history sheeters and mafia. Under no circumstances should a poor be targeted. If by chance a poor family has constructed their home in an inappropriate place, then the administration should first find them an alternative accommodation before taking any action," the CM said.The use of bulldozers was hailed with many in the government even using footage of action as a "befitting reply". Advisor to the CM, Mrityunjay Kumar, tweeted that rowdy elements should remember that "there is always a Saturday after each Friday", referring to the protest and the action taken by government on the following day. MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi's tweet on a video of police beating up an accused with caption 'Return Gift for Protesters', led to a massive debate on social media.During Saturday evening's video conference with divisional commissioners and senior police officers, CM said that the violence on Friday had earlier been attempted in Kanpur on June 3. Directing officials to take strict action against the accused, he said: "Those who indulged in violence should be made to pay for the damage to property. The process of sending recovery notices has started in Prayagraj. It should similarly be started in other districts at the earliest. Strictest action should be taken in this regard," he said.The CM added that illegal money is used in anti-social activities and therefore, details of bank accounts and properties of conspirators and accused should be collected. He asked officials to check their source of income and ordered that a dedicated team, led by a senior official, should be set up for this."There should be zero-tolerance policy against those making mischievous statements. Police and administration have taken effective action against anti-social elements. At present the situation is under control, but we have to be ready for any situation. Police and administration will have to be in alert mode 24x7," the CM said.Yogi said this time the culprits used minor children for their purpose, and therefore, it was necessary to identify the main conspirators. As citizens of a democratic country, he added, it was necessary for the government to maintain dialogue with both sides and take action against the culprits to deter anyone thinking of taking such a step in future."Officers in the field should have the power to take decisions in order to be able to maintain law and order. If you perceive that the situation may deteriorate in some district in the coming days, implement section 144 there. Additional police force should be deployed in sensitive areas. Police should carry out foot patrolling every evening," the CM said.Initial investigations into the Friday violence and protests reveal that minors were also involved in stone-pelting incidents in several places, including Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Ambedkarnagar and Moradabad.Additional director general of police (law and order) Prashant Kumar citing reports from district police chiefs, said instances of minors being involved in violence that erupted after Friday prayers have come to the fore."Credentials of identified minor accused are being verified by the police to find out if they have a checkered past," he said."We are also probing the larger conspiracy to stoke the violence in the state," he said.Moradabad SP Hemant Kutiyal said that police have invoked relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act against about 50 unidentified minors who have been booked."We are first identifying the minors and teenagers who indulged in pelting stones at the police teams and sloganeering despite appeals from the police teams on Friday. Investigation will also be done first to known whether they are locals, and secondly, if any allurement was made to them," he said. Kutiyal also added that appeals have been made to all the religious leaders after the violence.Similarly, in Saharanpur, the SSP said over 100 teenagers could be spotted on CCTVs indulging in stone-pelting. "We have also booked unidentified teenagers protesting and raising slogans despite cops on the spot dissuading them to do so," he said. Similar reports have been received from Prayagraj as well.ADG, Prayagraj zone, Prem Prakash, told reporters that the crowd had been dispersed following the Friday prayers by the cops. But children, teenagers equipped with stones and covered faces started emerging and raising slogans. Thereafter, the appeals made by the cops to go inside their homes were not adhered to and they started pelting stones."Police exercised maximum restraint as a significant number of kids were involved. They were pelting stones intermittently. Mischievous elements incited kids based on faith and pushed them to attack," said Prakash.In Ambedkarnagar, police said that an imam was seen inciting a crowd of teenagers to protest and raise slogans. He was immediately arrested from the spot.
During the proceedings, Justice Kaul questioned the UP Additional Advocate General (AAG) RK Raizada, asking, "So you agree that bulldozing houses is wrongful?" The comment alluded to reports of "bulldozer action" taken by UP authorities to demolish houses of accused individuals. The petitioner's lawyer argued that the cases against Khan were politically motivated and filed during elections, but the AAG countered that previous FIRs and crimes had not been fully considered.