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Attack on Swiss couple in UP: One person arrested near Rajasthan border; matter of shame, says culture minister Mahesh Sharma

Quentin Jeremy Clerc and his girlfriend Marie Droz were attacked on Thursday morning

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One person has been arrested from the Agra-Rajasthan border and the hunt is on to nab three others allegedly involved in the attack on a young Swiss couple by a group of youths in Agra's Fatehpur Sikri, a senior police official said on Thursday.

According to reports, Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, and his girlfriend Marie Droz, also 24, from Lausanne were chased and attacked with stones and sticks by a group of youths in Fatehpur Sikri.

The couple was strolling near the railway station in Fatehpur Sikri -- a city founded by Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century and a major tourist attraction -- after a day in Agra when the group started following them.

The two were found on the ground, bloodied and bruised even as bystanders made videos of their plight.

"One person has been arrested from Agra-Rajasthan border and search is on to nab three others," Additional Director General (ADG) Crime Chandra Prakash told reporters.

Pakash said that on October 22 someone informed Dial 100 about the incident after which the couple were admitted to primary health centre and later at a private hospital in Agra.

"As the couple did not lodge any FIR, police suo motu lodged an NCR (non-cognizable report) in the matter," he said, adding that after medical report found fracture in arm of one of the tourists, relevant sections of the IPC were included in the FIR.

Asked about the accused, the ADG said, "Initial reports said that some of them are minor. But as probe is on, it will not be fair to disclose their names."

When asked as to why the DGP was kept in the dark about the incident, the ADG said, "In case of any incident related to foreigners, local police has to immediately intimate the police headquarters. We will probe why this information did not come and action will be initiated against the guilty." Taking note of the incident, a report has been sought from the district magistrate and SSP, Agra, an official spokesman said here.

Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, who came to India on September 30 with his girlfriend Marie Droz, also 24, was quoted as saying in the media report, that they were strolling near the railway station at the Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them and later attacked.

The couple said that as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that BJP men were behind the incident.

"It must be BJP men behind the incident. Some people performed puja at Taj Mahal premises wearing saffron clothes.
They want to ruin tourism of the country. I challenge BJP to remove Taj Mahal from list of heritage sites and seven wonders," he said here.

Describing the incident as "unfortunate", BJP spokesman Shalabh Mani Tripathi said, "Those involved in the act will not be spared."

"Police is working out the case and all the accused will be arrested soon," he said.

Tripathi said tourism is in the focus of the state government and state is committed to safety and security of foreign tourists. "They (tourists) can be assured that they are safe in the state in the present regime," he said.

The BJP leader said there should be no politics in such matters

Meanwhile, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today condemned the attack on a young Swiss couple by a group of youths in Fatehpur Sikri and said it was a matter of shame for Indians.

The minister said it was unfortunate that such an incident had happened in the country.

"I think the foreign minister has reacted to it. It's a matter of law and order but as the culture minister and as a human being I condemn the attack on the foreign tourists. It's unfortunate, should not have happened. It's a matter of shame for us," Sharma told PTI.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought information from the Uttar Pradesh government on the incident that took place on Sunday.

According to the National Crimes Records Bureau, crimes against foreign tourists visiting India have reduced by 29.4%.

In 2014, there were 384 cases of crimes against foreign tourists reported from across the country. This came down to 271 in 2015.

These findings are part of the first analytical report on crimes against foreign tourists furnished by the tourism ministry in the backdrop of a global outcry over attacks on tourists in India.

NCRB started profiling crimes against foreign tourists in 2014.

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