Anti-Agnipath protests: 80 arrested, 100 detained in Uttar Pradesh for damaging property

LUCKNOW: Over 80 youths were arrested and around a hundred detained for destroying public property during anti-Agnipath protests in Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Mirzapur on Saturday.
Protesters torched a UPSRTC bus and a police bike in Jaunpur and vandalised two UPSRTC buses in Mirzapur. A railway station and crossing were vandalised by protesters in Chandauli.
Meanwhile, police continued its action against troublemakers and lodged 23 FIRs and arrested 80 accused on Saturday. The arrests included 40 in Jaunpur, 20 in Mirzapur, 15 in GB Nagar, and five in Chandauli.
In all, 360 individuals have been arrested since June 17 and 29 FIRs have been lodged. Police officials said around a hundred suspects have been detained and are being questioned.
ADG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that UP Police headquarters has directed all district police chiefs to form small teams and intensify patrolling near highways, railway stations and bus stops.
"Rest of the state remained peaceful," he added.
Kumar also said that U police response vehicles and bikes have been directed to intensify patrolling and reach the spot whenever any information is received and apprise seniors about the situation. In Jaunpur, at around 9.30am, the protesters torched an Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus on Jaunpur-Prayagraj highway in Badlapur police station area.
"We immediately reached the spot and the fire was extinguished. There were no passengers in the bus. Strict action will be taken against all those responsible for the arson," said Inspector General, Varanasi Range, K Satyanarayan.
In Jaunpur, protesters set two bikes ablaze and vandalised a four-wheeler of a local BJP member in Sikrara police station area.
Varanasi divisional commissioner Deepak Agarwal also visited the spot.
In Chandauli district, protestors vandalised the station master's cabin, chairs, signal box and other property at Kuchman railway station, and the barriers of a railway crossing on Alinagar-Sakaldiha road.
In Mirzapur, protesters vandalised a UPSRTC bus at the city bus stop.
Meanwhile, crackdown continued on protesters in Aligarh, Agra and Mathura.