Moradabad violence: Centre seeks report from UP government

The Union government has sought a report from Uttar Pradesh about the violence in Kanth area of Moradabad district, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

"A report has been sought from the UP government on the entire incident. I will be in a position to say anything only after the report is received," Singh said during a programme.

Violent protests erupted on Friday after the police tried to stop some people from holding a 'mahapanchayat' in Kanth area over removal of a loudspeaker from a temple there.

A police spokesman in Lucknow said 12 officers, including District Magistrate Chandra Kant, were injured in stone pelting by the protesters.

He said a case was filed against 362 people, out which 62 were named under various section of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder.

He said 62 accused were arrested and sent to jail.

BJP leaders, including four MPs and an MLA who was accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, were detained.

Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som, Amroha MP Kunwar Singh Tanwar, Sambhal MP Satyapal Saini and Rampur MP Nepal Singh were detained, Moradabad Commissioner Shiv Shankar Singh had said.

Image: Police men patrolling in Kanth town near Moradabad. Photograph: PTI Photo