The Faizabad police arrested two senior leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday on charges of creating communal tension in the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad during the Durga Puja.

Those arrested are Gyan Kesarwani, vice-president of the VHP area unit, and Ashok Kumar Gupta, a VHP leader active in Ayodhya and Faizabad.

Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police R K S Rathore said for the last two years, during Dusshera and Durga Puja festivals, Kesarwani and his aides have been trying to

create communal tension to trigger riots.

“During Ram Baraat, Ram Vivaah and Dusshera ceremonies, he (Kesarwani) tried to create communal tension by spreading rumours of meat slices being found on the route which the procession was to take,” said the SSP.

According to the police, Keasrwani and his men also ransacked shops and properties belonging to members of the Muslim community.

This time too, said the police, Kesarwani and Gupta were found inciting anti-social elements to attack the Muslim-dominated localities of Kashmiri

Mohalla and Rath Heveli, ransack their shops and provoke them.

The SSP said Kesarwani and Gupta have been arrested and sent to jail.

“A case has been registered against Kesarwani and Gupta in Kotwali city for creating communal violence. We are making efforts to identify the others who conspired along with Kesarwani.”