BAJRANG DAL activists met their comeuppance when they tried to disrupt New Year Eve celebrations on Saturday. The activists who pelted stones smashing the windshields of several vehicles on AB Road opposite Press Complex and even allegedly assaulted Collector Vivek Aggarwal and SP Katiyar’s driver and gunman were lathi-charged by irate cops.
Dal district convener Pradip Nair received head injuries requiring a couple of stitches during the caning. He was later admitted to MY Hospital. Unsubstantiated reports maintain that even the Collector and SP swung their batons during the caning.
According to information received here, the trouble started when a six-member team headed by the Collector and SP came across a group of Dal activists who were pelting passing vehicles on the LIG-Vijay Nagar Square on AB Road.
When they tried to dissuade the activists, they not only paid no heed but also reportedly assaulted the duo’s drivers and gunmen. Collector Vivek Aggarwal, who had made it clear that attempts to disrupt celebrations would be dealt with sternly, ordered a lathi-charge.
The hoodlums were then rounded up and taken to the police station from where Jain was later shifted to the MY Hospital. When contacted, Vivek Aggarwal confirmed that his and Katiyar’s drivers and gunmen were attacked by the protestors.
He, however, denied that he had personally participated in the caning of the Dal activists. The Collector made it clear that no one would be allowed to hold the City to ransom.
{{/usCountry}}He, however, denied that he had personally participated in the caning of the Dal activists. The Collector made it clear that no one would be allowed to hold the City to ransom.
{{/usCountry}}“If Bajrang Dal has a grouse it is free to use democratic means of protest. However, intimidatory tactics will not be tolerated”.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded of the police to file an FIR against District Collector Vivek Aggarwal under section 307 (attempt to murder) for allegedly attempting to kill Pradeep Nair yesterday.
VHP City secretary Manoj Malpani said that a delegation of VHP leaders including City president Prem Baheti and working president Sanjay Dube met Inspector General Shailendra Srivastava today and demanded to file FIR against the Collector under Section 307.
The VHP leaders have warned of agitation if an FIR is not filed against the Collector. Malpani said the IG had assured the delegation that the police would investigate the matter and take action accordingly.
However, the VHP is vertically split on the issue of calling a City bandh tomorrow. While some sections of VHP leaders said that the general public should not be disturbed, another section was all for public protest of beating up of its activist.
Though there were several rounds of meetings at the party office today on the issue, the leaders could not come around any decision.