Uma's convoy halted during blockade

Sehore, MP, Apr 6 (UNI) Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti's, convoy was halted along with other vehicles when about 300 residents of this district's Aashta 'tehsil' town blocked the Bhopal-Indore road for roughly two hours today in protest against a powercut.

The 'sadhvi' was en route to Bhopal from the ancient temple town Ujjain and her convoy proceeded only after the intervention of senior police officers. They also pacified protesters and the blockade was lifted.

The residents also damaged a State Electricity Board (MPSEB) office, pelted stones and targeted four vehicles, the police said.

The Hindu Utsav Samiti had asked MPSEB to ensure that no outage took place until 1300 hrs as a 'Navaratra Maha Aarti' was scheduled but a powercut ensued at noon.

Residents alleged that Aashta was being subjected to outages of about eight hours daily for the past few days.

UNI XC-AC PM RAI1839