Police have so far arrested 18 people in connection with the violence in some areas here after people from two communities pelted stones and pelted bombs at each other during an attempt to shut down shops after prayers.
Director General of Police, Prashant Kumar told reporters in Lucknow that the rioters in Kanpur are being identified and so far 18 people have been arrested in this connection. He said that the police have sufficient CCTV footage and his help would be taken in further action. He said that action will be taken against the miscreants as well as those who conspired under the Gangster Act and their property will be confiscated or demolished.
Soon hundreds of people took to the streets and about half a dozen people including passers-by were seriously injured in the violence, he said. In Lucknow, ADG Kumar told that the government has taken the Kanpur incident very seriously and additional police force has been sent there.
After the incident, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav appealed to the people to maintain peace and demanded the arrest of the BJP leader who allegedly made derogatory remarks to Prophet Mohammad.