INDIA: Indian army says that the situation in the northern Muzaffarnagar district is improving after the region was hit by communal violence between Hindus and Muslims since few days

Record ID: 1377018

  • Title: INDIA: Indian army says that the situation in the northern Muzaffarnagar district is improving after the region was hit by communal violence between Hindus and Muslims since few days
  • Date: 9th September 2013
  • Summary: MUZZAFARNAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) INDIAN ARMY TRUCK FERRYING SOLDIERS SOLDIER HOLDING A GUN AND STANDING ON THE TRUCK ANOTHER ARMY TRUCK FERRYING SOLDIERS MEERUT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) INDIAN ARMY TRUCKS FERRYING SOLDIERS MUZZAFARNAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING (WEESTERN UTTAR PRADESH COMMAND) OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL V.K. YADAV, SAYING: "The situation is better now. Our army is conducting flag march there. Hopefully, the situation will improve further. There is nothing to worry about." MEERUT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) ARMED SECURITY PERSONNEL GUARDING A MARKETPLACE SOLDIER WITH A BADGE ON HIS UNIFORM READING, 'ITBP' (INDO-TIBETAN BORDER FORCE, INDIA'S PARAMILITARY FORCE) POLICE OFFICIAL AT A MEETING WITH THE RELIGIOUS NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPOKESPERSON OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, RASHID ALVI, SAYING: "The 2014 elections are knocking the door. The political parties are thriving for power now. They want to worsen the atmosphere so that they could win the polls. Whatever Bharatiya Janata Party is doing Muzaffarnagar is shameful and is condemnable." MUZAFFARNAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) DESERTED ROAD SIGN BOARD READING IN HINDI WITH ARROWS POINTING TO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS CLOSED SHOPS IN A MARKETPLACE LOCK ATTACHED TO THE CLOSED SHUTTER OF A SHOP NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LEADER OF RULING SAMAJWADI PARTY IN UTTAR PRADESH, RAM GOPAL YADAV, SAYING: "The Bharatiya Janata Party tries to spread communal disharmony ahead of polls. The party's existence in the province had come to an end. So, it resorts to communal violence and tries to return to power in the province." MUZAFFARNAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 09, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) TWO ARMED POLICEMEN GUARDING THE MARKET AREA DESERTED ROAD CLOSED SHOPS WITH LOCKS ON THE SHUTTER
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2013 21:34
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA97N6CD7LYV3595ZCFTU49HPHF
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Indian army said on Monday (September 09) that the situation in India's northern Muzaffarnagar district was improving after the town was hit by communal violence between Hindus and Muslims since few days.
    An army contingent of nearly 800 was dispatched to the area on Saturday night, as armed gangs of Jats, stormed a mosque and a village with Muslim residents.
    Army's General Officer Commanding (GOC) of western region in Uttar Pradesh, General V.K. Singh assured reporters of restoration of peace in the areas, which saw a fatal conflict between Jats, a group practicing Hinduism, and Muslims.

    "The situation is better now. Our army is conducting flag march there. Hopefully, the situation will improve further. There is nothing to worry about," he said.
    The violence erupted on Saturday (September 07) following a meeting attended by Jats in Muzaffarnagar district, 140 km (90 miles) northeast of New Delhi.
    The Jats are demanding the rescinding of charges against members of their community in connection with a communal clash last month in which three people were killed.
    A fresh outbreak of violence took place on Sunday (September 08), with the toll death climbing upto at least 28 and over 40 were injured.
    Amid such developments, the riots were politicized by different parties that triggered a blame-game.
    Politicians raised the fingers at main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party, which had also been linked to communal riots in the past.
    The poll panel chief of BJP, Narendra Modi, had continued to be widely criticized by many for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
    Federal ruling Congress party held BJP responsible for the latest riots in Muzzafarnagar.

    "The 2014 elections are knocking the door. The political parties are thriving for power now. They want to worsen the atmosphere so that they could win the polls. Whatever Bharatiya Janata Party is doing Muzaffarnagar is shameful and is condemnable," said Congress spokesperson, Rashid Alvi.
    Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous and politically crucial province was at the heart of some the worst communal clashes in 1992 following destruction of the Babri mosque in Hindu holy city of Ayodhya.
    The ruling party in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party, said that BJP was using violence as a tool to come to power in the province.

    "The Bharatiya Janata Party tries to spread communal disharmony ahead of polls. The party's existence in the province had come to an end. So, it resorts to communal violence and tries to return to power in the province," said a leader of Samajwadi Party, Ram Gopal Yadav.
    Uttar Pradesh, with 200 million people, is an unruly state that stretches southeast from New Delhi, divided along its length by the Ganges River.
    Local media said about 50 outbreaks of communal tension have occurred in populous Uttar Pradesh since the region's Samajwadi (Socialist) Party came to power last year.
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