Tension in UP town after youth burns 'sacred' chadar

Rampur, Jul 26: Tension gripped Swar in the district after a mentally-challenged youth allegedly burnt a 'sacred' chadar (cloth) at a religious place even as the situation is under control now, police said today.

The youth allegedly put on fire the 'sacred' chadar at the religious place in Swar Tehsil town late last night, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadhna Goswami said.

The passersby also observed smoke emitting out of the religious place following which they caught hold of the youth and thrashed him, she said. The youth was released from the clutches of the agitating mob by the Swar tehsildar with the help of his staff and handed over to the police.

According to police, people started gathering at the site after the news of the incident and pelted stones, following which police resorted to lathicharge and firing in the air in order to control the mob.

Two Sub-Inspectors, Kailash and Bhagwan Singh, and two constables, Bhagwan Singh and Abbas, were injured in the ensuing melee, police said. The injured police personnel are being treated in local hospitals, they said.

However, the situation is under control now, the SP said. The tehsil authorities apprised the collector and the district police chief who rushed to the site to pacify the mob.

District Magistrate NK Chahan and the SP also had to face stones but escaped unhurt as the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and police contingents called in from various police stations had laid security net around the superiors, police said.

PTI