Eight injured in police canecharge

Hoshangabad, MP, Apr 11 (UNI) Eight people, including a BJP legislator and a district panchayat president, were injured when police resorted to canecharge while they were protesting removing encroachment from a club land in this district.

BJP legislator Girijashankar Sharma, his gunman Rakesh Yadav and district panchayat president Bhawanishankar Sharma were injured in the incident besides others.

The BJP legislator and the district panchayat president alleged ''malicious intent'' on part of the administration.

Meanwhile, District Collector Faiz Kidwai said the club had been running a marriage garden and a restaurant illegally on 75,000 sq ft land, which was allotted to the Vindhya Club 40 years ago for running a tennis club.

The action had been taken in view of complaints in this regard as well as the state government taking exception to it.

Mr Girijashankar is the club's treasurer, while Mr Bhawanishankar is its vice-president.

The BJP legislator alleged that the district administration started canecharging without issuing a warning. He said his gunman was seriously injured while protecting him.

Mr Girijashankar threatened to stage a demonstration to protest the incident.

A report from Itarsi said the supporters of Mr Girijashankar and Mr Bhawanishankar pelted stones injuring five police personnel, deployed for the drive.

Meanwhile, a bandh has been called tomorrow by Itarsi BJP councilors team against the anti-encroachment drive.

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