By IANS
Agra : Curfew was imposed in several areas of the city Wednesday as angry mobs attacked police posts, burnt dozens of vehicles and clashed with police after four youths, part of a Muslim festive procession, were mowed down by a speeding truck.
Curfew has been clamped in five areas of the city of the Taj and residents have been asked to stay indoors after nearly 50 people were injured in the clashes with the police.
The Nai ki Mandi and Mantola areas, barely 5 km from the historic Taj Mahal and even closer to the Red Fort, have been put under curfew while restrictions were imposed in the nearby Rakabganj and Sadar localities.
District administration has announced the closure of all educational institutions for three days following the violence.
At around 4 a.m., four youths were crushed by a speeding truck on M.G. Road, considered the lifeline of the city, while Shab-e-barat was being celebrated.
A group of Muslim leaders immediately rushed to the police station at Nai Ki Mandi to protest the killing. But the protests turned violent when some people started pelting stones at the cops.
The situation went out of hand when the crowds swelled and attacked the police station. Police had to resort to baton charge and fire tear gas shells but the stone pelting continued.
Aditional District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela and a senior police officer have been injured in the clashes. The mob also burnt down a fire engine that had reached the spot.
Police and paramilitary forces have been rushed to the areas, considered communally sensitive.