60 put on notice in Gorakhpur, Rampur for damage recovery

Rampur/Gorakhpur, Dec 25

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Over 60 persons have been “identified for violence” during the last week’s anti-citizenship law protests in Rampur and Gorakhpur and issued notices, asking them to explain their position or pay for damage caused to public and private property, officials said on Wednesday.

The Rampur administration issued notices to 28 persons on Tuesday after damage of nearly Rs 25 lakh was assessed across the district by the police and the administration, they said.

The police had initially said the damage incurred was worth around Rs 15 lakh, but the final assessment put the figure at Rs 25 lakh, they added.

“Notices have been issued to 28 persons who have been identified for violence during the protests. They have been given seven days’ time to respond why action should not be taken against them, failing which, proceedings will be initiated to recover money from them for destruction of public and private property,” Rampur District Magistrate Aunjaneya Singh said.

A 22-year-old man died of a bullet injury in Rampur on Saturday during violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act. Several locals and policemen were injured, and six vehicles, including a police motorcycle, were torched, according to officials.

So far, 33 people have been arrested and more than 150 identified in connection with the violence in Rampur, the police said.

The Gorakhpur police too have sent notice to 33 persons allegedly involved in violence during Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) protest in Gorakhpur on Friday. The police said FIRs against 1,000 unidentified persons have also been registered.

The police have pasted the pictures of people involved in violence and announced that the informers will be awarded.

So far, 26 people have been sent to jail and several others have been picked up on the basis of photos released by the police. Notices are being served to those offenders who have either fled homes or are untraceable, police officials said.

“The accused persons have been asked to reach police station through notice to clear their stand by Thursday. In case they failed to appear, their property may be attached,” CO (Kotwali) VP Singh said.

On Wednesday, a team of district administration visited violence-hit areas — Reti, Nakhas and Ghantaghar — and assessed the loss which have been caused to public property during violence. — PTI