11 arrested in clashes between two groups in UP

Eleven people were arrested on Friday after clashes broke out between two groups in Mangta village here in Kanpur Dehat district, police said.

According to media reports, the two groups allegedly clashed during the 'Bhim Shobha Yatra', which was being taken out after the culmination of 'Bhim Katha', organised by members of the Scheduled Caste community.

"After culmination of 'Bhim Katha', which started on February 8, members of the Dalit community took out 'Bhim Shobha Yatra' in the village on Thursday.Both the communities entered into an altercation after a minor youth allegedly tore the poster of Dr B R Ambedkar. Both the groups also started pelting stones at each other, injuring 25 persons," Additional Superintendent of Police, Anup Kumar, said.

 

Superintendent of Police (Kanpur Dehat), Anurag Vats, said minor children belonging to the upper cast tore poster of Dr B R Ambedkar that led to a clash between the two groups.

Twenty-five people, who sustained injuries during the incident, were admitted to the Ursula Horsman Memorial (UHM) hospital in Kanpur, the SP said, adding that eight of them were discharged while the condition of the others was stated to be stable.

"We have registered FIRs against men of upper caste following complaint of one Amit Kumar," Vats said, adding that the FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST Act.

Police said they nabbed 11 people, who were sent to jail on Friday evening, in connection with the incident.

Reacting to the incident, Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East, Priyanka Gandhi, tweeted in Hindi, "In Mangta village of Kanpur Dehat, Dalits reciting Bhim Katha were attacked by bullies. Several people are hospitalised."

"Be it Shabbirpur or Mangta incident, the BJP government did not listen to the victims' families. The BJP has attacked the Constitution and now the attacks are even happening on recitation of Babasaheb story," she alleged.