Communal tension flared up in Agra when agitated over the kidnapping of a minor girl, members of a community went on the rampage and torched houses and business establishments of the members from another community in Khandauli area of the district on Tuesday night.
They alleged that the police did not respond to the SOS of the villagers.
However, denying any police apathy in the matter, IG (Agra Range) Satish Ganesh said that the police responded on time and recovered the girl within a few hours of the kidnapping.
The IG said that a heavy police force was deployed in the area and the culprits were being identified.
As per reports, a girl student of class IX from Saimra hamlet of Khandauli went missing after going to her school on Tuesday morning. When she did not return home on time, her family launched a search.
The situation took an ugly turn when the girl’s uncle received a call from a person from the other community who claimed that the girl was in his possession and warned him against lodging any report. The caller also gave an assurance that the girl would return home by the evening.
Angered by the development, the girl’s father lodged a report of kidnapping with the police. Later, villagers started gathering to register a protest.
Some villagers informed senior police officers that the situation could turn violent but the police reportedly did not turn up on time.
Taking advantage of the police apathy, the irate villagers went on the rampage and torched at least 15 business establishments of members of the other community and attacked their houses.
The situation could be controlled only after senior officers reached the spot and informed that protesters that the girl was recovered.
Meanwhile in Badaun, manager of a school was arrested after the father of an eight-year-old girl lodged a complaint accusing him of calling his ward to a room and behaving inappropriately with her, in Nai Sarai locality under Sadar Kotwali police station on Tuesday.
The complainant also alleged that when he confronted the accused, he threw him out of the school.
The girl said that the accused had also behaved in similar manner with other girls studying in the school.
A group of parents protested in the school and the police rushed to the spot to control the situation.
The accused was arrested and a probe was started in the matter.