UP govt orders high level inquiry into Mathura's park-encroachment clash
A mob of 3000 people, who call themselves Satyagrahis, had occupied the park for more than two years. Clashes between the police and the mob took place when the former decided to check the site on Thursday.
Stones were pelted at the police, following a round of firing.
Uttar Pradesh police chief Javed Ahmad was quoted as saying by NDTV, "There was unprovoked firing from the members of an offshoot of the Jai Gurudev sect. Heavily armed men from the other side fired at the police."
Reportedly, the attackers had perched among the trees and fired from there as well as set fire to explosives before leaving.
DGP Javeed Ahmad tweeted, "Huge cache of arms recovered in Mathura 45 arms of 315 bore, two 12 bore one factory made 315 bore rifle, one 12 bore rifle, four 315 bore."
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said during an interview on NDTV that the fringe group was heavily armed. He has ordered a magisterial inquiry, media reported.
A tweet from UP chief minister's office said, "'@UPGovt will ensure the strictest action under law against the perpetrators in the Mathura incident. Speedy prosecution of the accused'-CM".
Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala said it was a complete law and order failure.
Shrikant Sharma, BJP leader, alleged the encroachment was a nexus between the government and the land mafia. BJP has demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
Meanwhile, actor and BJP MP Hema Malini drew a lot of flak as she was found tweeting about her movie on Friday and not reacting to the grave situation in her own constituency.
Later Hema Malini tweeted, "I am a very sensitive person.I am deeply pained on the Mathura incident but Law & Order of U.P is the core issue. Let's not divert."
She is likely to visit Mathura later on Friday.
The two policemen killed in the clash were identified as Mukul Dwivedi, Superintendent of Police and Santosh Kumar, Station House officer of Farah police station, reports said.
Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs. 20 lakh for the family of the deceased.
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