UP govt to take action against Agra Police

New Delhi: All schools and colleges have been closed in Agra for the next three days and Section 144 has been imposed in the city following Wednesday's violence.

Curfew is on in five different areas in the city and the state government has initiated action against city police for failing to control the violence.

Curfew has also been imposed near the Taj Mahal and nobody is allowed to visit the heritage site. UP government has also advised foreign tourists to stay indoors as a precautionary measure.

The Superintendent of Police has been transferred while 12 police personnel including an inspector have been suspended.

On Wednesday, police and district administration were a mute spectator as the mob torched more than 20 vehicles. Some also tried to take advantage of the situation by giving it a communal colour. The violence later claimed one more life.

Violence Mars Festive Season

Violence erupted in Agra after four people were mowed down by a speeding truck, with angry protesters torching 20 trucks prompting authorities to clamp curfew in Nai ki mandi and Mantola area.

The incident took place during the procession of Shab-e-Baraat on Tuesday night. Of the four deceased, two were on a motorcycle and the other two on a rickshaw.

Following the accident, members of the minority community took to streets, stopping vehicular movement in the Dhakran crossing area. Police fired three rounds in the air and burst tear gas shells to disperse the irate mob.

However, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh said it was natural for the minority community of Agra to react in such a manner.

“If someone is getting killed during festival season it's natural for the people to react. The administration should have been sensitive to them. It remained a mute spectator,” Singh said.

<table width="252" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><table width="248" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="center"><img src="http://www.ibnlive.com/pix/sitepix/08_2007/riot_1a.jpg" width="248" height="178" border="1"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class='Gtext10 lineheight12'> <div align="center">MOB FURY: Police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the mob.</div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> <table width="252" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><table width="248" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="center"><img src="http://www.ibnlive.com/pix/sitepix/08_2007/riot_2a.jpg" width="248" height="178" border="1"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class='Gtext10 lineheight12'> <div align="center">ON THE BOIL: Indefinite curfew has been imposed in six police station areas.</div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table>

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