A mob with alleged links to the Azad Samaj Party and Bhim Army on Sunday vandalised police vehicles in Prayagraj’s Karchhana area after they came to know that the party’s national president and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar was detained as he was not allowed to visit the family of a person who was murdered on April 13.
The mob also pelted stones at police and shops and damaged private vehicles, setting two of them on fire, officials said.
Twenty people were detained in connection with the incident, it is learnt.
The situation was brought under control after additional police personnel were brought in and force was used to disperse the crowd. Though four personnel sustained minor injuries and are undergoing treatment, police claimed no one was seriously injured.
Two motorcycles that were set on fire by the protesters (ANI)
Prayagraj Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajay Pal told The Indian Express the situation is now under control and that 50 persons involved in the violence have been identified and action will be taken against them.
A case is being registered under stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the cost of the damage will be recovered from the accused, he said, adding that the National Security Act (NSA) will be invoked against those who incited the violence.
Police cited law and order concern as the reason for not allowing Chandrashekhar and his associates to proceed to Isaut village to meet the victim’s family.
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While police claimed the miscreants were supporters and workers of the Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party, the party’s state president, Sunil Kumar Chittod, denied the allegation. He said those involved in the violence were not party workers.
“It was a planned visit to two places. In the morning, the Prayagraj police detained our party chief at the Circuit House and did not allow him or others to proceed,” Chittod said.
Chandrashekhar and others had planned to visit Isauta village in Prayagraj to meet the family of Devi Shankar, who was murdered on April 13. They also intended to visit neighbouring Kaushambi district to meet the family of a girl who was allegedly raped and murdered.
According to police, a group of people gathered near Isauta village to receive Chandrashekhar and later blocked the road in protest, removed the barricades and began pelting stones at the police team.
