Mau tense after bid to torch worship place

THE SENSITIVE Mau township is once again on the boil. Last night some anti-social elements made an attempt to set a religious place on fire triggering protests. An unnamed FIR has been registered in this connection.

THE SENSITIVE Mau township is once again on the boil. Last night some anti-social elements made an attempt to set a religious place on fire triggering protests. An unnamed FIR has been registered in this connection.

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Sources said about 4000 people of a particular community gathered outside a place of worship under Kotwali police station late last night after reports of a fire inside it. The protesters strongly protested against the fire incident, second within a week’s time. Senior civil and police officers, including DIG Azamgarh, DM and SP Mau rushed to the spot and persuaded the agitating protesters to clam down.

However, there were reports that when the agitators dispersed, some anti-social elements resorted to stone pelting in the area taking advantage of the darkness. There was tension in the township up to midnight as some anti-social elements stoned a religious place of another community, members of which also came onto the streets.

SP Mau Aushtosh Kumar told HT on phone that the situation was under control.

It may be mentioned a week ago, some anti-social elements burnt the calendar hung outside the same place of worship and an unnamed FIR was registered then also. “No arrests have been made in both the two cases,” the SP said.