Rampur, July 30 - A love affair has triggered communal tension in this Uttar Pradesh town that also saw violence after an angry mob attacked a police station and damaged public property.

A boy and a girl, who were in love for sometime, had gone missing, prompting allegations that the girl has been kidnapped, police said Thursday.

They were found in an Uttarakhand town and were brought to the Tanda police station here Wednesday evening. The girl, however, told police that she had willingly gone with the boy setting off angry reaction from the people of her community.

An agitated mob gathered outside the police station and threw stones at its building. They jammed roads, set afire several motor cycles and ransacked property, a police spokesman said.

Police chased the mob away and have detained the boy besides registering cases against 22 people on the charges of disturbing peace and harmony.

The girl was handed over to her family.