Varanasi administration: Protesters will pay for public property damage

Varanasi (UP): The administration here is in the process of identifying those involved in the violent protests over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and will recover from them the loss caused by damage to public property, an official said on Tuesday.

District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said 36 buses were damaged and a loss of Rs 12.97 lakh was incurred in the protests on June 17. He said 27 people have so far been held in this connection, adding that more people have been identified for their alleged role in the stir.
“The authorities will recover from them the loss caused by damage to public property during the protest,” the official said.

He also said that more information about those involved in such acts is being collected from government employees, ‘secret’ sources in rural areas of Varanasi and from officers in other districts.
Appealing to the youth, Sharma said they should not be “misled” and indulge in any such chaotic work which may spoil their future. – PTI

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Eyebrows up as bulldozers make appearance during flag marches

Aligarh (UP): In a controversial move, the district police here included bulldozers in some of the flag marches in the city after the violence over the Centre’s Agnipath scheme.
Former Samajwadi Party MLA from Aligarh Zameer Ulla Khan criticised the move saying damaging anyone’s property can’t be justified.

Bulldozers are being seen here as a possible deterrent against violent protests.
After damage to public property in protests following now-suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s remarks against Prophet Mohammad, there have been cases where the authorities allegedly used bulldozers to demolish houses of those involved in violence.

The authorities had, however, said action was taken according to the law as the structures were constructed without the approval of the building plan. The SC is also hearing petitions over the alleged demolition of houses using bulldozers following the violent protests.