Lucknow: In the first major arrest of a politician for the Muzaffarnagar violence, BJP MLA Suresh Rana was on Friday apprehended by Uttar Pradesh police on charges of making provocative speeches to cause riots. As news of Rana's arrest spread, several of his supporters reached the Gomtinagar police station and tried to prevent police from taking him away to an undisclosed destination. Rana, who is BJP MLA from Thana Bhawan in riot-affected Shamli district, was arrested by Lucknow police while he was on his way to Gomti Nagar from the party office this evening, immediately after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die.
With Uttar Pradesh government under attack over delay in arrest of MLAs accused of inciting violence in Muzaffarnagar, IG (Law and Order) R K Vishwakarma had on Thursday said the arrest was being “deliberately avoided” as the session of state Assembly was in progress. “On the basis of the application moved by Muzaffarnagar police, Mr. Rana has been arrested by Lucknow police and will be produced in the court,” Vishwakarma said on Friday.
He said that a case has been lodged against Rana under sections 188 (knowingly disobeying orders to maintain public order), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion) 353 (provoking with intent to cause riots) and 435 (damage to property) of IPC and criminal law amendment act, which is non-bailable. The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas claimed 47 lives and displaced over 40,000 people. Similar arrest warrants have been issued against 16 political leaders including four BJP legislators, a Congress leader and a Bahujan Samaj Party MP. All of them have been accused of inciting people in Muzaffarnagar. Laxmikant Bajpayi, the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, told IANS that the party will defend its leaders in courts. He accused the Samajwadi Party government of acting against BJP leaders without proof and in order to "appease the minority community".
