Congress MLA, 50 others held for role in Varanasi violence

Over 50 people and a Congress MLA, have been arrested a day after violence and arson broke out in the holy city during a march by seers and local leaders against police action on protesters, who were opposing the ban on the immersion of Ganesha idols in the Ganga.

Congress MLA Ajay Rai was arrested for his alleged role in the violence as soon as he landed at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Babatpur, after arriving from New Delhi.

Opposing Rai’s arrest, Congress district unit president <g data-gr-id="35">Prajanath</g> Sharma said, “The police have taken him (Rai) to a secluded place... We are trying to meet the SSP and know about his whereabout.” 

Rai represents the <g data-gr-id="44">Pindra</g> constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha election from Varanasi against PM Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, schools and colleges in the city remained closed on Tuesday, following a direction by Varanasi District Magistrate <g data-gr-id="41">Rajmani</g> Yadav. Traffic was thin and only a few tourists were seen in Godowlia area, which had witnessed violence on Monday.

A large contingent of security forces has been deployed in the affected areas. The situation is “under control and peaceful”, said an official. Curfew imposed in four police station areas of Varanasi following <g data-gr-id="47">outbreak</g> of violence yesterday was lifted around 9 pm on Monday.

Twenty-five people, including eight policemen, were injured as protesters went on a rampage, pelting stones and setting <g data-gr-id="33">afire</g> at least four police vehicles, booths, nearly half-a-dozen motorcycles and shops. They also hurled crude bomb.

Police had to resort to <g data-gr-id="37">lathichage</g> and <g data-gr-id="38">teargas</g> shelling to disperse the mobs and bring the situation under control.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Varanasi SSP Akash Kulhari on Monday night and took stock of the situation.

Godowlia crossing in the violence-hit area is the main entrance road leading to the ancient Dashashwamedh ghat, and a large number of tourists visit the area. However, very few tourists were seen at ghats on Tuesday. Even the boatmen were conspicuous by their absence.

Most shops were shut. Lawyers in the local district court also boycotted work for the second consecutive day against the police <g data-gr-id="39">lathicharge</g> on seers and locals on September 22 night when they were staging a dharna at Godowlia crossing here over idol immersion issue.