Violent clashes turned deadly in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh when a team of police officers tried to evict around 3000 encroaches from the path. 14 people have died including the station officer Satosh Kumar who was killed in the firing while the superintendent Mukul Trivedi has also been severely injured. Dozens were also injured including policemen when a group of semi-religious sect who called themselves ‘satya-grahis’ attacked the police officials.
The situation went completely out of hand. The police resorted to lathi charge and then tear gases bombs and then finally they have to open to a fire to control the armed devotees. These are the devotees of Baba Jai Gurudeo who call themselves the members of ‘Aazad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi’ that are occupied hundreds of acres of land of Jawahar Bagh for the last 2 years in the name of ‘satyagrah’. Now what they are demanding is the cancellation of elections of the President and Prime Minister of the India and replacing the existing currency with the ‘Aazad Hind Fauj’ currency. Not just this, they also want 60 litres diesel for 1 rupee and also 40 litres of petrol for 1 rupee. Shrikant Sharma, a BJP leader said, “This is maha-jungleraj. Criminals now are bold enough to attack police.”
“I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pardesh and reviewed the situation in Mathura. I have assured him of all possible help from the Centre. I am anguished over the loss of lives in the incident in Mathura. May God give strength to the bereaved families,” Rajnath Singh said.
A senior officer told, “The wrath of people against encroaches was such that when they were retreating, they were severely beaten by the public.”
The operation now is over and the entire area has been emptied. Though, police is still investigating the land mines that were laid by the armed devotees to stop them from coming any step further. Also, few country-made bombs were also thrown at the police.Daljeet Singh Chaudhary, the ADG, law and order said, “Protesters had explosives and guns. This was an unlawful assembly. We are probing if land mines were laid.
12 people from the sect of devotees have been killed and 2 cops have martyred their lives in the operation. Acting on a PIL, the High Court had directed the authorities to vacate the land.
