Internet services blocked in Saharanpur after arrest of Bhim Army founder Chandrasekhar

Following the arrest of Bhim Army founder Chandrasekhar, the main accused in the recent violence in Saharanpur, internet services have been blocked for two days to prevent social media being misused to foment tension in the district, the police said on Thursday.

"Internet facilities have been blocked for two days by District Magistrate, Saharanpur", IG, (Crime), Hariram Sharma told mediapersons here.

He said that a total of 46 FIRs have been registered ever since inter-caste violence broke out in Saharanpur last month.

As many as 206 arrests have been made so far, including that of Chandrasekhar, who has been booked under three FIRs, he said.

Chandrasekhar, 30, was nabbed from the Dalhousie area of Himachal Pradesh, Additional DG (Meerut Zone) Anand Kumar told PTI over phone.

Read more: Ready to surrender if 37 innocent Dalits are released on bail, says Bhim Army leader Chandrasekhar

He will be brought to Saharanpur on a transit remand. Earlier, two members of the Bhim Army were also arrested in Saharanpur over their alleged involvement in the Ramnagar caste violence that took place on May 9.

The Saharanpur district saw repeated violence after one person was killed and several others injured in a clash between Dalits and Thakurs at Shabbirpur village on May 5.

Chandrasekhar had since been evading arrest and the police had declared a reward of Rs 12,000 for information about his whereabouts.