Cars of Mayor, Tandon attacked during protest
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 17
Vehicles of Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma and BJP co-incharge for Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Tandon were allegedly vandalised by agitators during a protest held in support of farmers outside the motor market in Sector 48 here today.
Their moving vehicles were allegedly smashed with rods and sticks. Stones were also hurled on their cars. Front and back windscreens of the cars were broken. However, both leaders, who were sitting inside, escaped unhurt.
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The Mayor’s driver suffered minor bruises.
Case registered
- The police detained some persons and impounded tractors at the motor market in Sector 48. A case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 427, 307, 506, 269, 270 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 49 police station.
According to the Mayor and Tandon, they had gone to attend a programme at the motor market. While they were returning after attending the event, the protesters gheraoed their vehicles. Some of them came right in front of their cars.
Some hurled stones and the others allegedly attacked the vehicles with rods and sticks. “They seemed to be in a mood to kill us. One of them carrying a rod even managed to open the door of my car before we could shut the door,” said the Mayor. A video was circulated yesterday by a group of men who asked people to reach the venue in large numbers on Saturday to protest against the BJP leaders.
Tandon, a former city BJP chief, had informed the police about it last night and was assured of security. “The arrangement by the police was poor. They should not have allowed people, most of whom were outsiders, to attack our vehicles. Those sitting on junctions should be removed,” he said.
The BJP leaders, who reached the venue little after 11 am, saw people raising slogans in favour of farmers and against the BJP on their route. They were attacked when they came out of the venue an hour later.
Tandon said there seemed to be some anti-social elements who came as part of the farmers’ protest. “My request to all workers of the party is to maintain peace in the city,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders, led by Tandon, met SSP Kuldeep Chahal at the Sector 34 police station. The police assured them of strict action.
