Mathura clashes, 24 including SP and SHO killed, state government orders probe

Mayuresh Bhardwaj

June 3, Mathura:  At least 24 people, including a SP and a SHO, have been killed in clashes between police and encroachers during a drive to evict illegal occupants of a land in Mathura district. The clashes broke out when police were trying to evict illegal occupants of a land in Jawahar Bagh by activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi on the verdict of Allahabad high court. Over 360 people have been arrested in violent eviction drive.

“Two of our young officers laid down their lives while protecting the law and with a heavy heart we bid adieu to them”, the DGP told reporters. Huge cache of arms recovered at the spot including 45 arms of 315 bore, two 12 bore factory made and many other firing arms.

Uttar Pradesh DGP Javeed Ahmad said that the police are preparing to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against the leaders of the protesters along with others who have been illegally occupying Mathura’s Jawahar Bagh for the last two years. Nearly 3,000 people had illegally set up a camp on an over 260-acre plot for last two years. Chief Minister  Akhilesh Yadav expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of deceased policemen SHO Santosh Kumar and superintendent of police Mukul Dwivedi.

Union Home minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to CM of the state and expressed his anguish and grief to him over the damages and loss of lives. The minister has assured all necessary help to the state government.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry on the violent.

(Mayuresh Bhardwaj is a student of journalism at Indira school of Communication)