The investigation on the Kasganj violence came to an end with the DGP’s concluding it as a group clash rather than a communal riot. Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police OP Singh said on Wednesday that the event was just a group clash.
The Kasganj violence took place on January 26th this year. People from right-wing group and Muslims clashed over conducting a tiranga yatra in a Muslim-dominated communally sensitive area where a Republic Day program was being conducted. The initial altercation escalated to gunfire leaving a young man named Chandan Gupta dead. Many others were injured in the clash.
DGP claimed that there have been no communal riots in the past one year, however, small group clashes keep occurring in some districts. “There was tension in Kasganj due to group clash but it was effectively checked. We contained its spread,” said the DGP.
The police arrested Saleem, Salman and Asif Gymwala as suspects in Chandan Gupta’s death.
Contrary to DGP’s remarks, an independent fact-finding team led by activists claimed that the violence continued after January 26. Hindu mob attacked Muslim areas and burned their homes and shops. They called the whole issue “pre-meditated and well-planned” with an aim to spread communal hatred.
