Hindutva activists attack police in Agra

Agra, April 23 (IANS) A minor squabble between two groups in Fatehpur Sikri spilled over to Agra on Saturday night as Hindutva outfits went on a rampage beating up police personnel and damaging vehicles.

The activists were led by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Fatehpur Sikri, Choudhary Udai Bhan Singh. They wanted the release of their party members against whom an FIR had been registered in Fatehpur Sikri.

Senior police officials reached Fatehpur Sikri near here and tried to contain a possible communal flare-up, informed sources said.

The Hindutva outfits on Saturday tried to lay siege to the Taj Mahal and forcibly enter the restricted 500 metre zone to demand the lifting of a ban on saffron scarves.

ASI officials agreed to look into their grievances even as a note from the union Culture Ministry was circulated indicating there was no ban on scarves of any colour.

The 362nd Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan began on Sunday afternoon. A 1,000-metre-long ‘chadar’ is to be offered at the tomb.

The Taj Mahal will see a huge crowd on Sunday as entry will be free.