Curfew in Mathura area — Toll 2

After the police failed to disperse the mob using rubber bullets and tear-gas Kumar said they had to fire several rounds to disperse the two groups which had resorted to brickbatting.

Two policemen — constables Ranvir Singh and Brij Bhusan — were seriously injured in today’s violence. Kumar said the mob used crude bombs and also resorted to firing with countrymade guns besides throwing acid-filled bottles at the policemen.

All senior police officials, including Commissioner (Agra division) Rajiv Gupta and the DIG (Agra), Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, are camping in the area. The police have taken about 15 persons into custody to prevent further violence, Kumar said.

While the police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) had been deployed to maintain law and order, tension continued in the affected area forcing the authorities to clamp curfew today. Six companies of the PAC and Rapid Action Force have been deployed.

Police officials say the dispute is over a 1000-square-yard plot which was recently evicted following court orders. A boundary wall was being constructed around the plot, reportedly owned by Murlidhar Choudhary and Mahipal Singh, after getting favourable court orders. However, some local leaders objected to this saying that the plot was being used as a graveyard for the past 20 years.

Because of the tense situation in Mathura, the administration has tightened security in all districts — Agra, Aligarh, Mathura, Ferozabad, Etah, Hathras and Mainpuri — in the Agra