Mob burns house of man in Agra for inter-faith marriage

A mob in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra set fire on Friday to the house of a man, who had been missing with a woman belonging to a different religion, the police said. Members of a fringe right-wing group called ‘Dharam Jagran Samanvay Sangh’ set ablaze the house of a man named Sajid, an owner of a gym in the city, as per PTI.

I’m an adult, women said

The couple had gone missing on April 11, following which the woman’s family appealed to the police for help. However, after a few days, the couple uploaded a video, in which the woman said that she was an adult and had willingly gone with the man. The couple also alleged that their lives were being threatened by their own family members, agency reported.

When the news of the missing couple spread, the right-wing group swung into action and set fire to the gym belonging to Sajid in Agra’s Runkata area and a house adjacent to it. The mob demanded the arrest of the man for absconding with a Hindu woman.

The shops of the local market were also closed on Friday following the mob’s demand. There was no report of any casualty in the attack on the gym owner’s house.

Police suspends officer

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Agra, Sudhir Kumar Singh, later rushed to the spot along with his deputy and several police officers. Singh said that he had ordered the suspension of the outpost in-charge due to negligence regarding the matter. He also told reporters that an inquiry had also been initiated against the SHO and action will be taken if he is found guilty.

The SSP said that a FIR had been lodged against those who burnt Sajid’s house, adding that they will be charged under the National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangster Act.

Singh said that the man and the woman were both adults. The police managed to trace the missing woman, but Sajid had still not been found, PTI reported. Police said that the woman will be brought to court soon.

(With Agency inputs)