LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh police foiled an attempt to allegedly disturb communal harmony by two men in Bijnor district of Western UP and arrested them on Monday.
The two accused were identified as Mohammad Kamal (35) and his brother Mohammad Adil (23). Kamal, who had gone to Saudi Arabia for work, had returned recently and Adil works as a plumber, said the police.
The duo, reportedly wearing saffron towels, allegedly tried to damage the Ghosiowala and Jalal Shah Wala’s tombs, which come under Sherkot police station of Bijnor district. They allegedly vandalised the ‘mazaar’ (tomb) and set fire to the curtains and ‘chaadars’, police said.
Officials from the Intelligence Bureau and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) are questioning them about their motives and trying to ascertain if they are associated with any organization or acted independently.
Additional director general of police, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar told TOI that the incident shows attempts were made to disturb the atmosphere amid the Kanwar Yatra and that directions have been issued to the police to be more alert.
“Police were alerted at around 4 pm on Sunday by the caretaker of one of the mazaars that someone had demolished the structure. A police team rushed to the spot and while it was trying to collect information about the attackers, who were reportedly wearing saffron scarfs, they got information that another shrine located around four kilometres away had also been damaged,” said Kumar.
The team then reached the other location. “Timely intervention by police led to the arrest of the accused. The first accused was arrested on Sunday itself, while the second was nabbed on Monday,” said Kumar.
The accused have been booked on charges of promoting enmity between two groups, mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house etc, lurking, house-trespass or house-breaking to commit offence and disturbing religious assembly.
The police have also invoked Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act against the men.
Kumar said that a few days ago, an attempt was made to disturb communal harmony at the recently opened Lulu Mall in Lucknow, but was foiled due to prompt action by the police.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the top police officers to make high-level security arrangements for kanwarias ahead of the Kanwar Yatra. He had also instructed officers to take stern action against anti-social elements who tried to create communal disharmony during the yatra.
