The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested the main accused in the violent clashes that erupted in Kanpur after Friday prayers. Hayat Zafar Hashmi and five others were arrested from the Hazratganj police station area of Lucknow. Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena said Mr. Hashmi, along with five others, was hiding at the office of the news portal that Mr. Hashmi operates. “We will seek their remand and invoke the National Security Act and the Gangster’s Act against them,” said Mr. Meena.
Addressing a press conference, the senior official said preliminary investigation and CCTV footage had suggested that the violence was planned. “During interrogation, the arrested have revealed the names of four-five people. We are looking at their links with Popular Front of India through their mobile phone records and bank account details.”
