Kasganj Roundabout to be Renamed After Man Whose ‘Tiranga Yatra’ Triggered Communal Strife

Aligarh: The Uttar Pradesh government on January 26 conferred honour to the father of 19-year-old Chandan Gupta who was shot dead while leading an unauthorised 'Tiranga Yatra' that led to communal violence exactly a year ago on the Republic Day in Kasganj, western Uttar Pradesh. 

WATCH: What Started the Kasganj Violence

State minister Suresh Pasi, along with District Magistrate RP Singh and Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar, paid homage to the deceased, describing him a "honahar yuva" (talented youth), and conferred honour to his father Sushil Gupta in an official celebrations of the 70th Republic Day organised at Kasganj police lines.

"We have decided to rename a roundabout within city limits as 'Chandan Chowk'. It is in accordance with the wishes of the deceased parents and demand raised by the residents of the city," said the minister after the ceremony.

ALSO READ: Who is Chandan Gupta, Is He a 'Martyr'?

Interestingly, Newsclick learnt that before Pasi made the announcement, DM Singh raised a request of renaming any of the city's roundabout after Chandan's name from podium during his Republic Day celebrations' address.

In addition, the district magistrate announced that the deceased’s family had been given compensation of Rs 20 lakh from the chief minister's relief fund and Rs 8 lakh by public representatives. 

"Chandan's elder brother Vivek Gupta has been given a pistol licence and his father - a local trader - a gun licence. The deceased sister Kirti Gupta has been given a government job," said the district magistrate.

Notably, the controversial Tiranga rally had triggered a communal violence last year after motorbike-borne youth forcibly tried to pass through a Muslim-concentrated locality - Baddu Nagar - near Bilram Gate, chanting objectionable slogans.

ALSO READ: Illegal, Unscheduled Rally Leads to Communal Violence at Kasganj in UP

This was at a time when preparations for flag-hoisting ceremony by residents of the colony were already underway. The street was decorated with tricolour balloons and national flags and chairs were put for people to sit, with a flag mast erected at a trisection known as 'Veer Abdul Hameed Tiraha'.

The locals asked the bikers to join them but the latter insisted that they be given passage and began chanting objectionable slogans. This resulted in an altercation. The police intervened and the youth were forced to run away from the area leaving their bikes lying in the area. This can be authenticated with CCTV footage and other videos earlier accessed by Newsclick.

ALSO READ: Kasganj Violence and the Role of Sankalp Foundation

Chandan was an active member of a local group Sankalp Foundation, which allegedly played a key role in instigating the communal strife.

Two prime accused for the Kasganj violence, Vishal Thakur and Anukalp Chouhan, (founder of the Sankalp Foundation) were also present in the bike rally along with deceased Chandan when the clashes broke out.

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