Shops sealed over violence in Uttar Pradesh after Yogi's 'revenge' remark

At least 60 shops have been sealed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar in a crackdown by the state government after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warned of avenging the violence that erupted during protests against the Centre’s new Citizenship law.

The amended Citizenship Act had triggered protests across the country, some of which turned violent with mobs torching vehicles and pelting stones on policemen.

Also read | Govt will avenge destruction of public assets during protests: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh witnessed the worst of it, with violence erupting in over nine cities, prompting the police to use tear gas shells on the agitators. At least 16 protesters have died in the northern state in violence over new law.

Following the incidents of violence in the state, Adityanath had promised action saying the cost of damages to properties during the protests would be avenged with fines collected from those responsible.

“Properties of those involved in damaging public assets will be seized and auctioned to compensate for the losses. They have been captured in video footage. We will take revenge,” he had said.

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Soon after this announcement, the crackdown began in Muzaffarnagar, where several vehicles were torched during violent protests on Friday. As per reports, 67 shops belonging to alleged rioters were sealed by the evening. However, no such reports have surfaced from capital Lucknow, which too witnessed violence over the new law.

Reports say the police in several districts have started identifying the miscreants through video footage. Prohibitory orders are imposed and internet has been shut down in several parts of the state after the violence. The police have filed over a hundred cases and booked at least 700 people in this connection.