‘Iron nets broken, stones pelted’: FIR after bazaar vandalized, ‘Chadar’ burnt down in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: An FIR has been registered against an unidentified person after a bazaar in Shinur area of ​​Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district was allegedly vandalized and a holy cloth or ‘chadar’ was burnt, officials said on Monday.The incident, which came to light within the confines of the Sadar Bazar police station, triggered tensions in the area and prompted authorities to intensify efforts to track down those responsible.Police chief Saurabh Dixit told news agency PTI that burnt pieces of cloth were found at the site during inspection. “It appears that someone took away the chadar offered at the bazaar and set it on fire. Besides, the iron netting around the shrine was also damaged,” he said.He said a complaint was lodged on Sunday following which the police registered a case against an unidentified person and initiated investigation. “Police have been instructed to identify and arrest the accused as soon as possible,” he added.Mohammed Ahmed, also known as Chand Miyan, the caretaker of the shrine, said people from different communities frequent the place. “More Hindus than Muslims visited the bazaar. After the incident, the police rushed to the spot. We demand the immediate arrest of those who destroyed the iron fence around the shrine, burned the chaddar and hurled stones at the holy shrine,” he said.The police have registered a case under Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to damaging or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class.Officials said CCTV footage from the nearby area was being scanned to identify the accused and establish the sequence of events.