20190918 Agra: Shops set on fire, locals attacked over minor girl’s elopement
India Sep 18 2019 “Building” “Stores”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
Agra: Shops set on fire, locals attacked over minor girl’s elopement
Updated: 2019–09–18
AGRA: Nearly a dozen shops were set ablaze and heavy stone-pelting was reported in a remote village of Agra district, after a man and a minor girl from two different communities allegedly eloped.
The 15-year-old girl, who is a student of class IX, was living at her maternal grandfather’s house in Saimra village of Khandauli police jurisdiction, while the boy, who the police claims to be 18-years old, lived stone’s throw away. He is claimed to be class XII student.
According to sources, when both the girl and boy didn’t return home from school, the girl’s parents lodged an FIR against the boy under IPC section 363 (kidnapping).
“As soon the FIR was lodged, the information spread like wildfire . By 6 pm, nearly 100 men led by the members of local saffron group armed with batons, club sticks, gun, iron rods and stones charged on the men of other community who were engaged in their daily businesses. Nearly 15 small shops and food carts owned by the men of other community were set ablaze and heavy stone-pelting was done. At least three men were also injured with minor bruises,” said a local resident.
Badar, a cycle shop owner whose premises was set on fire by the mob, said, “We ran for our lives as soon as we saw the armed men heading towards us. They vandalised local shops and set them on fire. My shop and my elder brother Abrar’s grocery store were both burnt. The men even looted cash and other items from the shops.”
Raes, 60, another local resident, said, “We hid ourselves on the rooftops of our houses, as the mob continued to attack local residents and engaged in violence for two-hours in the presence of policemen.”
Station house officer, Prashant Tyagi said, “We are yet to identify the men involved in arson and violence. Meanwhile, the girl and boy have been recovered.”
Etmadpur sub-divisional magistrate Garima Singh said, “An FIR will be lodged against the men involved in violence. We are keeping a close tab on the situation.”
Web Source: The Times of India