YC, BJP workers clash in Shimla; 4 seriously hurt

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 29

Over a dozen activists were injured, four of them seriously, as Youth Congress and BJP workers clashed outside the state BJP office at Chakkar, 5 km from here, today.

About 250 Youth Congress workers led by state Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh gathered outside the BJP office and raised slogans to protest against land acquisition ordinance promulgated by the Central government. On hearing the slogans, BJP workers also came out and shouted slogans against them.

BJP leaders accused the Youth Congress workers of attacking their office, indulging in stone pelting, smashing the windowpanes and inflicting injuries on over a dozen workers.

The Youth Congress, on the other hand, accused the BJP of attacking the peacefully demonstrating workers, causing injuries to them. Both the parties have lodged FIRs accusing each other of instigating violence, SP, Shimla, D W Negi said adding that the police had lodged an FIR in connection with the violence.  “Two of our constables were injured in the clash. A car was also damaged. A case of rioting has been registered”, Negi said. The matter was under investigation. No arrest has been made so far.

Eyewitnesses said the police had cordoned off the area to keep the BJP and the Congress workers segregated. However, violent party activists broke the cordon and the groups clashed.

BJP spokesman Ganesh Dutt accused the Youth Congress workers of attacking and ransacking the BJP office. He said over a dozen persons were injured in the attack. The injured included BJYM president Sunil Thakur, Karan Nanda and Inder Thakur. They were seriously injured and rushed to the IGMC Shimla. Another activist Rajesh Sharda, who received a blow on his eye, has been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.