Tension in Muzaffarnagar over Tikait's arrest, son arrested

Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Tension prevailed in Sisauli village of Muzaffarnagar district where at least ten policemen were injured this morning when the members of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) attacked the police which had gone to arrest BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait.

Tikait was charged for using objectionable languge against UP Chief Minister Mayawati in a rally in Bijnor yesterday.

Subsequently, an FIR was lodged against him under the provisions of SC and ST act but the police's attempts to arrest him were failed due to stiff resistance from BKU workers who helped him to reach Sisauli, his native village.

At least ten policemen got injured when the BKU workers attacked the police. Reports of stone pelting and vandalising had also reached the state headquarters.

Meanwhile, Surinder, the son of Tikait was also arrested by the police on the charge of indulging in violence against the police, the Inspector General of Police (Meerut Zone ) V K Gupta told UNI over phone.

He also confirmed the use of mild force and tear gas against the protesting BKU members. Mahendra Singh Tikait could not be arrested, he said.

The additional police force had been deployed in and around Sisauli to prevent the situation from turning uglier, the IG said.

UNI SB BDP GC1251