AGRA: Firozabad police on Wednesday registered an FIR and arrested 12 men who allegedly damaged Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses on Agra-lucknow expressway on June 17 while protesting against the short-term recruitment of soldiers in the defence services under the Agnipath scheme.
The FIR has been registered under various sections of IPC including section 147 (punishment for rioting), section 7 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Police said eight out of the 12 arrested men are in the age group of 25 to 32 years. Meanwhile, two arrested men have past criminal records. Additional superintendent of police Akhilesh Narain Singh said, “All the 12 men have been arrested on the basis of evidence against them for involvement in damaging roadways and buses during the protest against Agnipath scheme. Also, four more accused have been identified. They will be arrested soon.”
On June 17, four UPSRTC buses in Firozabad with over 150 passengers inside were attacked after several masked men, protesting the Centre's Agnipath scheme, pelted sticks and stones at the vehicles. The incident happened at around 5 am in the morning and many passengers sustained injuries due to broken glasses, stones, and stampedes, said officials. By the time cops reached the spot, the attackers had left.
Meanwhile, Firozabad police has enhanced patrolling in rural areas and has deployed 72 policemen to monitor content shared on social media.
