MORE than 100 people have been arrested in the Uttar Pradesh town of Kasganj after a weekend of communal violence that left one young man dead, police reported yesterday.

Violence broke out on Friday when local Muslims celebrating Republic Day were attacked by activists from the ABVP, the youth wing of the right-wing Hindu chauvinist RSS, a paramilitary organisation linked to the ruling BJP.

ABVP members were reportedly annoyed that the Muslim celebration meant their motorcycle rally had to be diverted and the two sides started pelting each other with stones.

The dead man was identified as 22-year-old Chandan Gupta.

ABVP activists seemingly went on the rampage over the weekend after Mr Gupta was cremated, burning down several shops and vehicles and beating up Muslims.

A police statement said: “So far, 112 persons have been arrested. As many as 31 accused have been arrested, and 81 preventive arrests have been made.”