Several injured in communal clashes in Agra

Scores of people were injured in Agra as clashes broke out between two communities over removal of loudspeakers from a shrine.

Achnera (Uttar Pradesh), Sept. 29 : Scores of people were injured in Agra as clashes broke out between two communities over removal of loudspeakers from a shrine.

"Tension arose between the two communities on changing the direction of loudspeakers, which later turned into stone pelting. On the provocation of some people, some eight-nine shops of scrap merchants were torched," said Mukesh Meham, District Magistrate.

The city of the Taj Mahal is seething with tension since Thursday when members of a community in Achnera village, 40 kilometers from Agra, reportedly pulled down loudspeakers from the other community's shrine.

Mobs torched at least nine junk dealer shops and hurled brickbats, injuring a few policemen.

Additional police force was rushed and police fired in the air to disperse the mobs.

"Senior Superintendent of Police, three SPs, two Additional Superintendent of Police, three-four Circle Officer, fire brigade vans and Provincial Armed Constabulary forces from several adjoining police stations were here," said Navin Arora, Senior Superintendent of Police.

Tension prevailed in the areas even as policemen patrolled the streets.

ANI