Tension in UP town after attack on Jain monks

There was tension in Uttar Pradesh's Etmadpur town Tuesday after a group of Jain monks was attacked the night before, leading to protests and a bus being set on fire.

Of the six people who had attacked the monks Tuesday night, four had been arrested and the hunt was on for the other two, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Subhash Chandra Dubey.

"We acted fast and the situation has been brought under control. A bus without passengers was set on fire but now everything is under control," Dubey told IANS.

Police were also preparing for further protests.

"Jain community members from Etawah, Mainpuri, Firozabad and other nearby areas are reaching Etmadpur to protest," said Premendra Jain, a protester.

Police said three Jain monks were passing through a narrow lane in Etmadpur town, about 20 km from Agra, when they were targeted.

The incident flared up later with protests spilling over to the nearby Delhi-Kolkata highway, resulting in the bus being burnt and traffic jams. Police had to use batons to disperse the incensed protesters.