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Agra mob fury: Curfew imposed near Taj, schools shut: IBNLive.com > Videos - Video report




Shab-e-Barat

Description: Worshipers offering Prayers on the occasion of Shab-e-barat (Spiritual night for Muslims) at Historic Makkah Masjid in the old city of Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Date: Wed 29 Aug 2007 12:20:40 IST





CITY ON THE EDGE: Agitated locals burnt down vehicles and an angry mob pelted stones at police.



MOB FURY: Police had to use lathicharge (Baton Charge) to disperse the mob.



ON THE BOIL: Indefinite curfew has been imposed in six police station areas.

Agra burning: Mobs protest death of youth

Wednesday, 29 August 2007

Agra, August 29: There is tension in large parts of Agra after the police lathi charged and fired in the air to cool down angry mobs on Agra's MG road.

They were protesting against the death of 4 young men in a road accident in the city, early Wednesday morning.

The mobs burnt down at least 13 trucks and a police vehicle. They are still gathered in their thousands in various parts of the city.

The Additional District Magistrate was injured in the violence. Several policemen have also been injured.

Additional police forces are being rushed from neighbouring areas of Meerut, Etawah and Hatras.

All the four killed were Muslim youth out for the religious function of Shab-e-Baraaat, roads are blocked and the tension has spread to the nearby highway.

--Agencies

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Agra mob fury: Curfew imposed near Taj, schools shut

CNN-IBN

Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 09:49

Agra/New Delhi: 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 Shabe-e-barat 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 Muslim 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.

While curfew has been imposed in a total of six police station areas to contain the violence that has left 12 people injured, prohibitory orders have been imposed in the entire city.

Curfew 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.

Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed in the city to check violence and schools and colleges have been closed for the next three days.

Meanwhile, UP Home Secretary JM Chamber told CNN-IBN that the situation is under control and the state authorities will decide when the curfew should be lifted.

“Situation is under control now and people are staying indoors. Police is on alert and curfew has been imposed by the administrative authorities who will slowly and gradually lift the curfew according to the situation,” Chamber said.

Additional District Magistrate of the city and media personnel were also roughed up in the clashes. Describing the situation in Agra as grave, MP Raj Babbar appealed for calm.

“People have burned few trucks. Nai ki mandi and Subhash Park area are tensed. The incident happened at MG Road in Agra. Young boys were killed and that’s causing the anger among people. We should aim at controlling the situation and calming down people. The situation is grave,” Agra MP Raj Babbar told CNN-IBN.

Reports said the mob also attacked Nai ki mandi police station and tried to manhandle the police personnel.

Two fire engines, which were sent to extinguish the blazing trucks, were also set to fire by the agitators while couple of small factories were damaged in the violence.

Contingents of Rapid Action Force were also deployed in the troubled areas. Meanwhile, religious leaders have appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.