Contrary to the claims of the district authorities that Gorakhpur is returning to normality, tension still marks life in the violence-hit town. A former BJP MP who reached Gorakhpur today to lead a protest against the incarceration of area MP Yogi Adityanath also warned of the possibility of fresh violence breaking out.Meanwhile, Samimullah, a 55-year-old cycle mechanic who was attacked by a mob on January 30, succumbed to his injuries today. He allegedly died because he could not get access to medical care due to the deployment of a large posse of police and paramilitary forces in Kushinagar since Tuesday that has restricted the movement of people. Former BJP MP Chinmayanand demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of Adityanath” and said the state government that discontent among Adityanath’s followers was growing. Preparing for an indefinite yagya and relay hungerstrike minutes after the authorities relaxed curfew from 10 am today, Chinmayanand warned, “There is every possibility that violent protest in the region will increase.”While the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court has reserved the order on Adityanath’s bail plea till Tuesday, the court of the District Judge has listed February 7 to hear the appeal against Adityanath’s remand in custody for 14 days.Gorakhpur DM Rakesh Goyal said more security personnel will reach Gorakhpur from the Ardh Kumbh in Allahabad and claimed life was fast returning to normal. However, Chinmayanand contradicted him, saying, “This is simply the lull before the storm.” Earlier in the morning, around 150 sadhus took out a protest march from Digambar Akhara but were stopped by police near Naya Ghat on the Lucknow-Gorakhpur national highway, SP (City) V D Shukla said. When the sadhus reverted to a sit-in on the national highway, 24 of them were taken into custody.Kushinagar DM Shashi Bhushan Lal Shushil said. Schools and colleges will remain closed till February 7 and will reopen only after a thorough review of the situation.
