Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district is reeling under a strict curfew after the death of a 22-year-old in communal clashes. The tension has spilled into the neighbourhoods, Hindus and Muslims are staying away from each other’s localities.
At the center of all this is the family of the victim, Chandan Gupta. Chandan, a B.Com student, was seriously injured during the initial clashes. He was hit on the chest by a bullet and was declared dead at a hospital.
According to Chandan’s family, he was of an NGO, Sankalp Foundation, which helps poor with blood donation and food.
Recounting the day when her son was killed, Chandan’s mother said, “He [Chandan] must have thought that since these rallies were carried out every year, this time also the rally would pass peacefully through the Muslim dominated area. But they caught my son and beat him. He was not part of any outfit like ABVP.”
While the police are yet to identify and arrest the killers, the talk in the neighborhood of the deceased is that “he was killed by Muslims”.
“Police didn't kill my son, Muslims did. They fired 50-60 rounds and pelted stones on the rally,” Chandan’s mother said.
Chandan’s family belongs to the lower middle class. His father is a compounder in a private hospital while his brother has a diploma in pharmacology. The family wants the killers to be hanged.
Sharda, Chandan’s aunt, said that those responsible for murdering her nephew haven't been nabbed yet. “We don’t want any money or compensation. We want the status of martyr for him,” Sharda said.
Two days after the incident, at least 49 people were arrested in the town, the borders were sealed and internet services blocked to check the spread of rumours.
Five FIRs have been registered so far. On the basis of these FIRs, 31 people have been arrested while 81 others have been notified for disturbing the peace.
Following the clash, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued an appeal through his official Twitter account for “peace and harmony” and directed the administration to “take strict action against miscreants”.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had described the violence as unfortunate and said the people behind it would not go unpunished.
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