BJP demonstrators lathicharged in Lucknow

Lucknow, Aug 12 (UNI) Police resorted to lathi charge, used tear gas and water cannons on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist, led by state party president Ramapati Ram Tripathi, who were trying to stage a sit-in at the Raj Bhawan here on the Amarnath Shrine Board land issue.

Many BJP workers were injured in the use of force by police. The workers indulged in stone-pelting, damaging several buses and government vehicles. About 300 BJP workers, including Mr Tripathi, senior leader Lalji Tandon and others, were arrested in the process.

The BJP workers, as per their pre-announced programme, gathered at the party office and proceeded towards Raj Bhawan, about 500 metres from there. As they were prevented from doing so, BJP activists indulged in stone-pelting and agressive slogan-shouting, prompting police to use force.

We were just trying to prevent the agitators from gheraoing the Raj Bhawan but they resorted to violence and even scaled its gates,'' police said.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesman alleged the police brutally lathicharged and tear gased their peaceful procession in which about 25 workers were injured, some of them seriously.

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