Tension gripped parts of Uttar Pradesh as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) workers took out 'Tiranga Yatras' (marches carrying tricolor) on Wednesday.

The marches were taken out in several districts, including Agra, which is very close to Kasganj - where communal clashes on Republic Day claimed one life and left many injured.

According to the reports 'Tiranga Yatras' were also taken out in communally sensitive town including Ferozabad, Etah, Bareilly, Aligarh and Shahjahanpur.

Police deny

Police, however, claimed that no 'yatras' were taken out as permission for the same was denied.

Pictures of the 'yatras', however, appeared on the local media networks in several districts.

Marchers, who carried tricolors in their hands, shouted ''anti-Pakistan'' slogans, sources said.

Cries of 'vandemataram' and 'Jai Shriram' also rented the air during the marches.

According to reports, Shahjahanpur became tense after some miscreants pelted stones at the marchers near Bilariyaganj police outpost in which one youth was injured.

Irate VHP and Bajarang Dal workers demanded miscreants' arrest as a large number of sesecurity personnel were deployed to thwart any attempt to disrupt peace, sources said.

Sources said that police and saffron workers had a scuffle in Ferozabad after the former tried to stop the march, which didn't have permission.

Tight-lipped

When asked if permission was granted for taking out the 'Tiranga Yatras', senior officials remained tight-lipped.

The newly appointed Police Chief of the State, O P Singh, had earlier said that no permission was required for 'tiranga yatras'

Violence had broken out at Kasganj during a similar march on Republic Day in which one person was killed and several others injured.

VHP leaders said that the 'yatras' were being taken out to press the demand to pay tribute to Chandan Gupta, who was killed in the Kasganj violence and declare him a martyr.

Senior UP IAS officer and district magistrate of communally sensitive Bareilly had also recently said in his post on social media that it had become a ''fashion to undertake marches in Muslim dominated areas and shout anti-Pakistan slogans''.