Four arrested for Lucknow violence

Lucknow, Jan 17 (IANS) Four people were arrested Thursday for their involvement in sectarian violence in Lucknow’s old city areas which left one person dead and over a dozen injured.

Officials admitted that the situation was tense but under control in the affected areas including Wazirganj and Thakurganj.

“We are keeping a watch on the situation and police parties have been formed to nab the others involved in firing at people outside a mosque last night,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Navneet Sikera told IANS.

Shia clerics Maulana Kalbe Jawwad and Maulana Saif Abbas have asked police to act fast and bring those who fired on innocents to book.

Imam Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, the Imam of Aishbagh, said the sooner the arrests were made, the greater the likelihood of normalcy returning to the area.

“Police should not only arrest those behind the clashes but also unravel the conspiracy to disturb peace in the area,” he said.

A man was killed and more than a dozen people were injured in clashes between members of Shia and Sunni sects here Wednesday night, police said.

Several rounds of gunshots were fired, and arson was reported in Old Lucknow. Tension had been simmering between the two sects over last week, and it spilled onto the streets Wednesday night.

The violence broke out near Deputy Saheb Ka Imambara in Wazirganj area after a religious congregation at a mosque was attacked.

This led to several rounds of firing and stone pelting, a police official told IANS.

Police identified the dead man, who sustained bullet injuries, as Shanu.

IANS 2013-01-17 13:08:04