By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Meerut: In communal charged Western Uttar Pradesh, a brawl between two youths – one Muslim and one Dalit – over Rs 50 turned into a communal riot in a Meerut village on Sunday evening.
Five persons were injured in a communal clash between members of dalit and Muslim communities in Durveshpur village under Parikshitgarh police station in Meerut district. Soon the rumor mill got acting, escalating communal riots in the neighboring villages as well.
About ten days back a resident of the village, Basit had borrowed Rs. 50 from Neetu, a dalit boy, according to the police. Allegedly when Neetu’s brother Bitto asked him to return the money on Sunday, Basit, who was with two of his friends at the time; had scuffle with him and consequently beat him up.
Soon the rumors spread that they had kept the Dalit boy as captive after beating him badly. This infuriated the local Dalits, came with lathis and bricks in hands. Soon clashes between the two communities began in which they hurled stones and bricks and beat each other with lathis.
Locals have alleged that the police acted late, although MM Baig, Superintendent of Police (Rural) of Meerut Division, has denied the allegations. Although Police has not registered any FIR so far, they have taken Basit, Bitto, Neetu and their friends into custody.
SP Baig also confirmed that three persons each from the two communities have been arrested and adequate police personnel have been deployed in the area.
Although order has now been restored and on Monday situation was under control though tense, with heavy police deployment. There is fear but that the tension might escalate once the forces are withdrawn.