Sachin Pilot, 20 others injured in Congressmen-police clash

Jaipur, Mar 3: At least 20 persons, including Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot, were today injured when police tried to stop party workers who attempted to gherao the Assembly to protest against recent power tariff hike.

"At least 10 policemen and 10 Congress workers, including Sachin Pilot, were injured, the police said. "Sachin Pilot has received minor bruises in the lathicharge," PCC spokesperson Archan Sharma said.

Police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the protesters who tried to break barricades for entry into the Assembly's cordoned area at Jyoti Nagar barricade point, DCP Ravi Dutt Gaur said.

"In retaliation, the protesters pelted stones at the police, injuring 10 cops," the DCP said. Over 100 Congress workers and PCC president Pilot courted arrest under section 129 of CrPC, and later released at different places near Jaipur, he said.

Earlier at the Udyog Maidan, the Congress workers, led by Youth Congress National President Amrendra Singh Raja and State President Ashok Chandana (MLA), organised a meeting and marched towards the Assembly, the DCP said.

As Chandana showed his body marked with baton injuries, all Congress, and an Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal stalled the House proceedings and jumped into the Well of the House.

The protest was organised as the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission had announced revised power tariffs for different consumer categories, permitting Discoms to increase domestic electricity charges by around 16 per cent (85 paise per unit) and non-domestic usages charges by around 19 per cent.

The average increase for all categories is 16.89 per cent. The fixed charges too were increased for all categories and the hike ranges between Rs 20 and Rs 50 per connection per month.

The Congress spokesperson said that over 10 party workers who were injured were rushed to SMS hospital for treatment.

PTI