The Faizabad police arrested two senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders Gyan Kesarwani, vice-president of the VHP area unit, and Ashok Kumar Gupta, a VHP leader active in Ayodhya and Faizabad on October 2 on charges of creating communal tension in Faizabad during the Durga Puja. Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police R.K.S Rathore said for the last two years, during Dusshera festivals, Kesarwani and his aides have been trying to create communal tension to trigger riots.
“During Ram Baraat, Ram Vivaah and Dusshera ceremonies, Kesarwani tried to create communal tension by spreading rumours of meat slices being found on the route which the procession was to take,” said the SSP. According to the police, Kesarwani and his men also ransacked shops and properties belonging to members of the Muslim community.
The police said this time again, Kesarwani and Gupta were found inciting anti-social elements to attack the Muslim-dominated localities of Kashmiri Mohalla and Rath Heveli, to ransack their shops. The SSP said Kesarwani and Gupta have been arrested and sent to jail. “A case has been registered against them in Kotwali city for creating communal violence. We are making efforts to identify the others who conspired along with Kesarwani.”