Mathura violence: DM, SSP shifted; UP govt sends report to Centre

In the first major fallout after the Mathura clashes, the Uttar Pradesh government today shunted out the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Mathura even as it dismissed BJP’s charge that there was political pressure on police to not evict encroachers from Jawahar Bagh.

“#UPCM@yadavakhilesh instructions, DM/SSP Mathura has been transferred. New incumbents will join soon,” Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has been under attack over the violence, tweeted.

'@UPGovt will ensure the strictest action under law against the perpetrators in the Mathura incident. Speedy prosecution of the accused'-CM

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) 3 June 2016

SSP Rakesh Kumar Singh has been replaced by SP Jalaun, Babloo Kumar, an official statement said. The name of the new district magistrate, who will replace Rajesh Kumar, is yet to be announced.

In its report to the Union Home Ministry, the state government rejected BJP’s charge that there was political pressure on police to not evict encroachers from Jawahar Bagh park and said the recent violence there was the result of the failure of local authorities.

Links to Naxals have not been ruled out given the quantity and type of weapons used by Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi - an outfit that claimed to owe allegiance to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

In its report, the state government has said last Thursday’s clashes between the police and squatters belonging to the cult at the public park was the result of the failure of the local police to assess the situation.

The report said the police was forced to act before they had made adequate preparations following an attack by the cult members.

According to reports, a police contingent led by Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi had gone to Jawahar Bagh on June 2 for a recce when it came under attack. In the clashes that ensued 29 people, including Dwivedi and the SHO of the local police station Santosh Kumar, were killed. Cult leader Ram Vriksh Yadav was also found dead.

The members of the obscure cult were heavily armed and outnumbered the police force which went to evict the encroachers from the Jawahar Bagh park last week on a court order, the report said, noting that grenades and automatic weapons were freely used against the police.

Chief minister’s uncle, Shivpal Yadav, who is a minister, has been accused by BJP of being a patron of the cult which moved into the 280-acre park in 2014.

Shivpal has denied any links to the cult, demanding that the BJP “either prove its allegations or apologise publicly”.