Paramilitary personnel at Muzaffarnagar, where four people were killed in two incidents of violence on Wednesday
Muzaffarnagar:
Weeks after nearly 60 people were killed in Muzaffarnagar in the worst riots in Uttar Pradesh in over a decade, this western part of the state appears to be simmering again.
Four people have been killed in the last 24 hours. Around 500 paramilitary troops have been sent to Muzaffarnagar early today as a precaution, while eight people have been arrested.
Uttar Pradesh police today admitted lapses on its part for the fresh violence. "It can definitely be attributed to lapses on part of the police, due to which some people dared to do this. We will take strong action," Devraj Nagar, state Director General of Police said.
It is unclear whether the latest violence is liked to Hindu-Muslim tension, which killed 60 people here last month.
Thousands of people who fled their homes as whole villages were set on fire are still living in refugee camps, and say they are afraid to leave. September's clashes erupted when Jat farmers allegedly killed a Muslim man who they accused of sexually harassing a woman, triggering a deadly retaliation that quickly spiralled into three days of riots.
"What has happened in the Muzaffarnagar riots is serious. The killings....the atrocities against Muslims. We cannot bring back the dead. But we have ensured families have been compensated so that they don't have to live without homes and food," said Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The new outbreak of violence further indicts the state government headed by his son Akhilesh Yadav, who was criticised last month for not reacting to early warning signs of spiralling communal tension.
Mr Yadav has blamed the opposition BJP for instigating the violence with inflammatory speeches. The BJP accuses the Yadavs and government officials of enacting policies that are lopsided in favour of Muslims.
Last month's riots ,which were quelled with the help of the army, have featured in speeches by different leaders campaigning for the national election in Uttar Pradesh.
The police says there were two separate incidents which led to the four deaths last night.
The first incident involved clashes between two groups of people from neighbouring villages over a land dispute, while a woman was killed by a different group of villagers in a separate incident.
Four people have been killed in the last 24 hours. Around 500 paramilitary troops have been sent to Muzaffarnagar early today as a precaution, while eight people have been arrested.
Uttar Pradesh police today admitted lapses on its part for the fresh violence. "It can definitely be attributed to lapses on part of the police, due to which some people dared to do this. We will take strong action," Devraj Nagar, state Director General of Police said.
It is unclear whether the latest violence is liked to Hindu-Muslim tension, which killed 60 people here last month.
Thousands of people who fled their homes as whole villages were set on fire are still living in refugee camps, and say they are afraid to leave. September's clashes erupted when Jat farmers allegedly killed a Muslim man who they accused of sexually harassing a woman, triggering a deadly retaliation that quickly spiralled into three days of riots.
"What has happened in the Muzaffarnagar riots is serious. The killings....the atrocities against Muslims. We cannot bring back the dead. But we have ensured families have been compensated so that they don't have to live without homes and food," said Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The new outbreak of violence further indicts the state government headed by his son Akhilesh Yadav, who was criticised last month for not reacting to early warning signs of spiralling communal tension.
Mr Yadav has blamed the opposition BJP for instigating the violence with inflammatory speeches. The BJP accuses the Yadavs and government officials of enacting policies that are lopsided in favour of Muslims.
Last month's riots ,which were quelled with the help of the army, have featured in speeches by different leaders campaigning for the national election in Uttar Pradesh.
The police says there were two separate incidents which led to the four deaths last night.
The first incident involved clashes between two groups of people from neighbouring villages over a land dispute, while a woman was killed by a different group of villagers in a separate incident.
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