PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
Communal tension gripped Bairagiwala village under Sahaspur police station of Vikasnagar in Dehradun district after a BJP worker was killed and two others were injured in a clash following a dispute over irrigation water on Saturday.
The news of the death of the BJP worker triggered anger among local residents. Late on Saturday night, members of the Hindu organisations and villagers gathered and staged a protest on the Premnagar- Paonta old highway. Many protesters were carrying sticks and demanded immediate action against the accused.
Police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel were deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident. However, tensions escalated again on Sunday morning as many residents expressed anger over the delay in the arrest of all accused persons. Hundreds of people gathered in Bairagiwala and marched towards the houses of the accused.
The administration used a bulldozer to demolish the boundary wall and other parts of the house of the accused house. Two shops of the accused were also demolished. Unimpressed by the action, the crowd demanded that the entire house should be demolished and bulldozer action should be taken on the houses of other accused. When the police tried to control the crowd it became violent and allegedly set two houses on fire. A tractor too was set on fire. With the situation taking a grave turn additional police forces from different parts of the district were rushed to the area.
During the unrest, protesters also pelted stones at police personnel. The superintendent of police (City) Pramod Kumar and three other police personnel were reportedly injured in the stone pelting. Police later used mild force to disperse the crowd and brought the situation under control.
According to the information, the dispute began over use of water from a government tubewell for the purpose of irrigation. Vinod Kumar, his brothers Ashok Kumar and Rajesh Kumar allegedly had an argument with Imtiyaz, a relative of former Pradhan Istiyaq. The argument soon escalated and several people allegedly reached the spot and attacked the three brothers.
The injured men were taken to hospital, where Vinod died during treatment. The deceased’s father alleged that the attackers came armed with hammers and assaulted his son. He also claimed that there had been a previous dispute involving unpaid money. Demanding strict action, he urged police to take the strongest possible steps against those responsible for the killing.
Meanwhile, Vikasnagar MLA Munna Singh Chauhan also reached the village. He demanded strict action against all those involved in the killing.
Taking a stern note of the fact that some police officers are not picking up the phone, he warned that he will ask the authorities not to promote the police officers posted in the area.
No one will be allowed to disturb peace, communal harmony: CM
DEHRADUN: Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has warned that the efforts of the people of Jihadi and violent mentality in disturbing peace and communal harmony in the State will not be allowed to succeed.
He said that the incident which happened in Vikasnagar of Dehradun on Saturday is highly condemnable. “The criminals will not be spared,’’ he said. On a stern note, the CM said that those who dare to challenge the law will be punished so severely that anyone will think a thousand times before doing such a thing in the future. He said that no one will be allowed to take law into his hands.
