The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced the formation of a special investigation cell to take over the probe into the Muzaffarnagar riots that left 49 people dead and rendered thousands homeless.
UP home department spokesman said that the SIC will be headed by SP Kavita Saxena and will cover the incidents of violence that took place in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining districts.
DIG Saharanpur and IG Meerut, will monitor the investigations being carried out by this cell that will have 29 investigating officers working on 106 cases related to riots.
The thrust would be on carrying out the investigation in a scientific manner using all the required scientific methods, he said.
UP DGP Dev Raj Nagar, who visited the Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday, admitted that there lapses on part of the state police. He said that it was unfortunate that there was lack of policing in some riot hit areas. Mr Nagar also said that the force should be seen as being impartial in its actions which dealing with sensitive situations.
Meanwhile, the Muzaffarnagar officials have upgraded security arrangements in the wake of the riots and 14 more police outposts have already been set up in the riot-affected areas. The district authorities plan to set up at least 33 more police outposts in areas of the district affected by the communal violence.
A sub-inspector, a head constable, six constables and a platoon of paramilitary force have been posted in each police outpost.
Police outposts have been established in Sisoli (BKU headquarters), Bhora Kala, Bhorakhurd, Hadoli, Mudhbhar, Gharinoabad, Mohd Raisingh, Shikherpur, Bhaju, Choonsa, Mohdpur, Purbaliyan, Jiwana and Lachera in the district.
Additional district magistrate Inder Mani Tripathi said on Tuesday that the death toll in the riots had gone up to 49 and more than eight religious places had been damaged in the communal violence in the district.