Mobile internet services have been blocked by Indian authorities in Saharanpur, one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh in northern India after violent clashes between castes had broke out resulting in 2 deaths and more than 20 injured.
Indian police arrested 24 individuals, suspended senior officials and blocked any access to mobile internet services in order to stop rumours from spreading and prevent “outsiders from instigating the violence in the district”.
“We ordered the service providers late Wednesday to suspend internet services as outsiders [...] were instigating locals with WhatsApp and Facebook posts,” Bablu Kumar,senior police officer, told AFP. “We have arrested 24 persons and have a massive force presence on the ground. Now the situation is absolutely calm,” he added.
According to local reports, the clash was sparked when a Dalit man was killed upon his return from a Dalit protest when a truck full of Dalits was attacked by upper-caste Thakurs in Saharanpur. Formerly known as “the untouchables”, Dalits are considered as the lowest Indian caste and they were furious about Thakurs playing loud music during a procession. Ever since, Dalits have reported that they were repeatedly harassed by Thakurs who prevented them from erecting a statue of BR Ambedkar (a local Dalit hero) on the premises of a local temple.
Former Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati’s visit to the area were blamed by the northern Indian government of Uttar Pradesh for inciting violence. An official statement was issued, saying:
“It was expected that the visit of the former chief minister would help restore peace in Saharanpur but this has not happened and it’s sad. Peace had been restored in Saharanpur but the former chief minister’s visit led to tension followed by the unfortunate incident where one person has died.”
Home secretary Mani Prasad Mishra told IANS that they would be camping there till things completely turn to normal.
