GHAZIABAD: Congress leaders Madhusudan Mistry and Nagma were today detained here when they were on their way to Moradabad to hold a 'peace march'.
Congress leaders Naseeb Pathan, Madhusudan Mistry, Nagma and other prominent leaders were detained by the police at UP Gate for violation of prohibitory orders, city Superintendent of Police Shivhari Mirna said.
A police team has been deployed at BJP MLA Sangeet Som's Kaushambi Apartment, he said.
"Police has been deployed at UP gate. No car is being allowed to enter UP from Delhi without checking. SP, circle officer, Inspector and constables have fully taken control of UP gate", Mirna said.
Authorities had yesterday imposed prohibitory measures in Moradabad to ward off any communal tension in the area as VHP, BJP and Congress had planned to stage marches in Kanth town today.
The decision was taken as part of UP government's efforts to prevent any law and order situation in view of the VHP 'Jalabhishek march', BJP's protest and Congress's 'peace march' in the area.
"Nobody will be allowed to disturb the peace in the area. Section 144 has been imposed in the district and heavy police and paramilitary force have been deployed to maintain law and order," DIG Moradabad range Gulab Singh had said.
After being detained by the police, actress Nagma, who contested Lok Sabha elections from Meerut said, "UP is not in a good state. The one who moves ahead for the betterment of society is stopped, while the one who divides the society is encouraged."
"We were just going to Moradabad for a 'peace march', but we were detained here by the UP police. Those people who go to Moradabad for making provocative speeches are not detained. It is very unfortunate that the UP government is curbing those who wish to promote peace," she said.
We will not step back in our efforts to promote peace. The moment we are released, we will once again head to Moradabad, Nagma said.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders today staged a protest outside the District Magistrate's office here over the Kanth issue.
They handed over a memorandum to the district officials addressed to the Governor, with seven demands.
BJP leaders demanded that a case be registered against the SSP and investigation be carried out for the alleged heinous crimes committed against Dalit women in Kanth area.
They demanded that the FIRs registered against BJP leaders and others be revoked and erring police officials and administration officials be probed.
Clashes had erupted between BJP workers and the police in Kanth on July 4 over holding of a mahapanchayat called by the party to protest removal of a loudspeaker from a temple in Akbarpur village, which led to communal tension in the area.