DHAKA: A group of BJP politicians, who have been linked to the deadly communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in India’s Western Uttar Pradesh, were not present in the state legislature Thursday.

Arrest warrants have been issued against two of them.

Police sources tell India’s NDTV that to avoid triggering a backlash among supporters of the leaders, they will wait till the assembly session ends on Friday to make any arrests.

Nearly 50 people were killed and 40,000 displaced by the Hindu-Muslim violence that tore through Muzaffarnagar earlier this month.

Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has warned of ‘more tension’ if any of her party men were arrested.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for leaders from other parties including the Congress and BSP for making incendiary speeches in the region.

Not one has been arrested so far.

BDST: 2031 HRS, SEPT 19, 2013
RoR/RIS