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Sectarian violence spreads in N. India
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Security forces have been ordered to shoot rioters on sight, as sectarian violence spread in northern India yesterday despite an army-enforced curfew imposed after deadly weekend clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims.
Gunfire and street battles that erupted on Saturday in villages around Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh state have killed at least 28 people and left many more missing, police said. Soldiers deployed to the region have been given orders to shoot rioters on sight, state government official Kamal Saxena said.
By yesterday morning police had arrested 90 people. Still, the violence spread to the neighboring districts of Shamli and Meerut.
Hundreds of people, some packed into bullock carts, tried to flee areas where their community represents a minority. One family trying to leave Kuttba village was beaten with metal rods and wooden sticks when caught between fighting factions.
“The whole village was very tense. I wanted to send my family to a safer place,” said Munavar, 24, who uses only one name, as his wife, eight-month-old daughter and six-year-old niece lay on hospital beds nearby wearing gauze bandages over their heads.
The violence began on Saturday night after a meeting of thousands of Hindu farmers called for justice in the August 27 killing of three young men from Kawal village who had objected when a woman was being verbally harassed. Officials said some farmers delivered hate-filled speeches against Muslims at the meeting.
Clashes with Muslims broke out after the meeting, with many wielding guns, swords, or knives, police officer Arun Kumar said.
One farmer, Anuvesh Baliyan, 26, said he and others were attacked as they returned home from the meeting.
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