By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The violence began as per reports in the Katghar locality when some youths belonging to Valmiki community went to purchase from a shop belonging to minority community. What really ensued is still not known but both the parties started accusing each other over a heated debate. Soon the two communities were pitched against each other resulting in violence.
Heavy police force and senior officials including IG RK Mishra rushed to the scene and diffused the situation. Over a dozen persons were also taken into custody.
Forces especially companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) which were sent back to neighbouring districts to assist the local police in maintaining law and order on occasion of Raksha Bandan and Independence Day were also reportedly summoned back to Moradabad.
Due to the violence, curfew relaxation between 11am to 3pm on Saturday was curtailed by one hour. The violence which continued for nearly an hour witnessed stone pelting from both sides. Nearly a dozen persons received injuries. Police lathi charged and fired tear gas shells to chase away the mob.
Earlier, the genesis of violence started on previous Sunday when Kanwariyas forcibly passed through minority dominated Katghar locality. The violence remained subsided for three days and it again erupted on Tuesday leading to curfew in six police circles namely Kathghar, Majhola, Mugalpura, Nagphani, Gulsahid and Kotwali. Since then peace continued for two days which was again broken on Saturday.