Supporters of SP, Ulema Council clash in Uttar Pradesh
By IANSWednesday, November 3, 2010
LUCKNOW - Security has been tightened in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh following a clash between members of the Ulema Council and supporters of a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, police said Wednesday.
The clash erupted late Tuesday in Jhaun village, where people from both sides indulged in heavy brickbatting and damaged many vehicles.
According to police, it all started when some members of the Ulema Council started raising slogans against local Samajwadi Party leader Adil Sheikh. The Azamgarh-based Ulema Council was constituted in 2008 to take up issues related to Muslims.
Several supporters of the SP leader later tried to block the way of the council’s convener Maulana Amir Rashadi Madni, who at that time was going in a car in the village.
“When other members of Ulema Council came to know about the incident, they also rushed to the spot in a large number. A heated exchange of words led to a clash between the two sides,” police inspector Pankaj Kumar told reporters Wednesday in Azamgarh, some 300 km from Lucknow.
“The situation was brought under control only after security personnel from other police stations arrived at the spot. Additional security has been deployed in the wake of the late-night clash in Gambhirpur town. The situation is now completely under control,” he said.
