Somaiya hurt in lathicharge

Mumbai, Aug 9 (UNI) Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya was hurt in a police lathicharge during a party-called ''Congres-NCP government chale jao'' agitation here today.

The party workers began assembling at Azad Maidan but the police closed the gates. This angered the BJP workers who protested, prompting the police to resort to a lathi-charge.

Mr Somaiya rushed to urge the police to stop the cane charge, but in the melee was hit and had to be rushed to the St George Hospital.

Police later apologized for the incident.

Meanwhile, across the state, 4.5 BJP workers courted arrest, including leader of the Opposition, Pandurang Phundkar.

UNI