Parts of Agra were tense on September 7 after a minor accident triggered off communal clashes where mobs pelted stones at each other and two houses were set on fire. On Monday night, a two-wheeler accidentally hit a woman in the locality. Though she wasn’t seriously injured, the incident snowballed into a riot as angry crowds hurled accusations at each other, pelted stones and even set two houses ablaze. Mantola is just three kilometres from the Taj Mahal. Siraj Qureshi, a resident of Mantola, helped save a family of eight after their house was set ablaze. “I saw a house on fire. I immediately rushed in as smoke had filled the room downstairs and children were sleeping on the terrace. I woke them up and took them out to safety before a fire engine arrived. It could have been a major tragedy but God was kind,” Qureshi, a social worker, said.
“I am surprised how a small incident can trigger off such violence. But we have identified the culprits and we will take drastic action. I have never seen such a stock of stones and bricks in my life. Obviously people were waiting for an excuse to indulge in such anti-social activities,” said acting District Magistrate Surendra Singh. About a year ago, there were similar communal clashes in Mantola area and the Taj Mahal had to be closed for a couple of hours.