BJP MLAs Sangeet Som and Hukum Singh, charged with inciting riots, at UP assembly
A group of BJP politicians, who have been linked to the deadly communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in Western Uttar Pradesh, were not present in the state legislature today. Arrest warrants have been issued against two of them.
Police sources tell NDTV that to avoid triggering a backlash among supporters of the leaders, they will wait till the assembly session ends on Friday to make any arrests.
Nearly 50 people were killed and 40,000 displaced by the Hindu-Muslim violence that tore through Muzaffarnagar earlier this month.
Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has warned of "more tension" if any of her party men were arrested. Arrest warrants have also been issued for leaders from other parties including the Congress and BSP for making incendiary speeches in the region. Not one has been arrested so far. (
Arrest us and see what happens, BJP's Uma Bharti warns Akhilesh Yadav)
Yesterday, Uma Bharti flanked BJP legislators as they left the UP Assembly after spending the day attending proceedings. The police tried to arrest them as they exited the building, a group of supporters encircled them. The police, worried about provoking violence, turned away.
A court has issued non-bailable warrants against the BJP's Bhartendra Singh and Sangeet Som for inciting communal tension in the days before the riots erupted on September 7. Mr Som has been accused of circulating a fake video that instigated Hindus to attack Muslims in Muzaffarnagar. At the UP assembly yesterday, he refuted allegations of dodging arrest. "I am here, let them arrest me if they have evidence," he said. Today, though, he has gone underground. (
Muzaffarnagar riots: Looking for me? Here I am, says wanted BJP leader)