BJP leader Yashwant Sinha injured in lathicharge

Former Finance Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and 12 others were injured when police used batons to disperse the saffron party activists who tried to gherao Raj Bhavan Ranchi.

Former Finance Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and 12 others were injured on Thursday when police used batons to disperse the saffron party activists who tried to gherao Raj Bhavan Ranchi.

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Sinha said he was subjected to "merciless" lathicharge during the "peaceful" agitation.

"In a barbaric action, the police beat us up, injuring several of our leaders. I am also injured. We would raise the issue in the ongoing Parliament session," Sinha told reporters here.

Sinha and Jharkhand's former chief minister Arjun Munda were leading the agitation demanding dissolution of the assembly and pave way for elections.

Three of Sinha's bodyguards received serious injuries while protecting him and other leaders.

According to the police, they had to resort to lathicharge after the protesters broke open a barricade and rushed towards the gate number two of Raj Bhavan.

"We were baton charged by the securitymen when we were trying to protect Sinha after seeing blood oozing from under his ear," one of Sinha's securitymen told newsmen.

Both the police and BJP activists were among the injured.

The Raj Bhavan were fortified and barricades were erected at five points leading to the Governor's house.