Muzaffarnagar Death Toll rises to 48

The curfew remained in force in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar district and adjoining towns in Uttar Pradesh and the death toll rose to 48 on Wednesday morning. The army has been deployed to control the situation and the shops, business establishments and schools remained closed.

The situation seems to be under control as no fresh clash or violence has been reported so far. The district administration has relaxed the curfew for four hours from 12 noon to 4 pm for the public, who are now dwelling in chaos and skepticism.

Strong action would be taken against those who have tried to create communal tension in Muzaffarnagar. The Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav has come under scanner for failing to handle the situation that left over 40 people dead and many injured.

However, the party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav defended the government saying, the violence was under control in two days.

The riots began with a young girl being harassed in her village of Kawal by a Muslim boy last month. Her brother and cousin allegedly killed him following the incident. Since then the tension was building between two communities but no action was taken to stop the local leaders to ignite fire.