Conspiracy in UP firing that killed three?

Lucknow, April 2 (IANS) Amid theories suggesting a "larger conspiracy", the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe into the Sunday firing in Etawah that killed three people.

Other than a Crime Branch-CID and a magisterial investigations, the state government Monday asked for "intelligence inputs on reasons that triggered the trouble" at a temple in Etawah, informed sources told IANS.

The incident also left nine people injured. One of them, the head of the local police station, is in critical condition.

Three people were killed Sunday when police fired at two groups of devotees who fought pitched battles in Balrai village of Etawah, the chief minister's home district.

There is widespread anger in the area over the police firing.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, Rs.50,000 to the critically injured and Rs.20,000 to the injured.

The deceased were identified as Munna Lal Yadav, Deepak and Girind Yadav.

While some in the police say the incident was a fallout of a simmering rivalry between two groups of devotees of the Brahmani Devi Mandir, others blamed in on miscreants who were apparently drunk.

Some people opened fire at the devotees, after which the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and police opened fire.

Akhilesh Yadav has taken a serious note of the incident and asked Director General of Police A.C. Sharma to personally oversee the case.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has also expressed displeasure over the incident and asked his chief minister son to "take the probe to its logical and satisfactory conclusion", the sources said.

Samajwadi Party leaders have off and on blamed the incidents of violence since Akhilesh Yadav took charge of the state on those in the police still loyal to former chief minister Mayawati.

The entire police force has been rejigged by the new government and all the district police chiefs have been changed.