UP Home Secretary claims situation under control in Muzaffarnagar, says social media spreading rumours

Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Kamal Saxena on Sunday assured that the situation in Muzaffarnagar is under control, and blamed social media and mobile messaging services for spreading unnecessary panic regarding the incident throughout the country.

"Situation is under control. Presently, extensive patrolling is on in the area," Saxena said.

"All kinds of rumours are being spread through Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. These are baseless," he said.

"The fake video uploaded on YouTube some years ago is being circulated through Whatsapp to spread rumours now," he added.

Confirming that 19 people have died, and 40 have been injured in the communal clashes, Saxena said that 52 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar yesterday when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.

According to TV reports, Rajiv Verma, who worked as a freelance television journalist, was reportedly caught in the crossfire at Meenakshi Chauraha. In Sekeda village, a photographer who the police had hired, was beaten to death.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to the kin of the TV journalist and Rs 10 lakh to the family of others who were killed in clashes between members of two communities in Muzaffarnagar.