The Satpuli market in Pauri district lost the usual Sunday buzz due to a protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists. The ABVP activists went on a rampage, damaging shops and belongings of fruit and vegetable vendors.

The ABVP members were agitated over posting of an objectionable photograph on Facebook.

The ABVP activists targeted the market where the family of the teenager who had posted the picture operate vegetable and fruit shops. The protestors damaged three shops of the family and set furniture on fire.

Satpuli’s Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram Joshi said, “Satpuli does not have any history of communal clashes. We have dispatched additional forces to keep the situation under control. We are also searching the website from where the photo template was used.”

The drama started around noon and continued till late evening. The communal tension badly affected the peace of the sleepy town.

The photograph posted on Facebook by the teenager was shared on other social media platforms that added fuel to the fire. The angry response of the people on the social media provoked the ABVP activists.

The family of the teenager enjoys cordial relation with the villagers.