Muzaffarnagar calm: Akhilesh to visit today, PM on Monday

Barring an incident of firing in which two persons suffered pellet injuries, the situation on Saturday remained by and large peaceful in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar, where Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is slated to visit on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Muzaffarnagar district on Monday, an official said.

‘The prime minister will visit Muzaffarnagar on 16 September,’ an official from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, adding details of the visit are being worked out. The prime minister had expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the violence.

Two persons sustained pellet injuries when they were shot at in Phughna area of the district today.

‘Two persons, who were working in a field, were shot at between Fugana and Loi villages. They sustained pellet injuries,’ Additional Director General (Law and Order) Arun Kumar told reporters in Lucknow.

‘Some cartridges were recovered from the spot. Police are looking into the matter. The incident created some flutter in the area, but situation is normal in the district,’ he said.

Two youths were also arrested on Saturday for allegedly sending inflammatory text messages in Sikhera village in the district.

Four others, including son of a khap council head, were arrested in Bahawdi village on complaints by some riot victims for their alleged involvement in violence.

Kumar said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit Muzaffarnagar on Sunday and all arrangements are in place.