Maya's statue vandal: Mob goes on rampage in Mathura

Mathura, July 27: The vandalising of former Chief Minister

's statue in Lucknow triggered off

in the district as an infuriated mob on Jul 26 damaged several vehicles plying on Mathura-Aligarh road and set ablaze two tankers and a state roadways bus in the Laxmi Nagar area.

Prior to the agitation on the Mathura-Aligarh road, the protesters forced the shopkeepers of the area to observe a shut down in the market areas.

"Teargas shells and rubber bullets had to be used to disperse the mob which went on a rampage and set two tankers and a roadways bus ablaze," Chief Development Officer N K Paliwal, who is holding the charge of District Magistrate on Jul 26, said.

Efforts are being made to control the situation, he said. Violence broke out in Laxmi Nagar area under Jamuna Paar police station on Mathura-Aligarh road, and despite the repeated warning by the police the protesters refused to withdraw the agitation, Paliwal said.

Annoyed locals blocked the traffic movement on the important Mathura-Aligarh route, which was later cleared on the assurances given by senior police officials.

"The fire department team is making best possible efforts to douse the fire at the earliest," he added.

PTI