Watch: Bihar minister's son beaten up after allegedly opening fire on children playing cricket

Bettiah, Jan 24: A Bihar minister's son and brother were roughed up in West Champaran district on Sunday, after they allegedly opened fire on a group of villagers following a dispute.

Bablu Kumar, whose father Narayan Prasad is a BJP leader and the state minister for tourism, was attacked at Haradiya Koeri Tola village in Mofussil police station area.

News channels beamed footage in which the minister's son can be seen being thrashed by a group of villagers, who also snatched away a gun he was carrying.

According to Superintendent of Police Upendra Verma, Kumar was accompanied by uncle Harendra Prasad, manager Vijay Sah and other associates, all of whom sustained injuries in the clash. They claimed they went to the spot upon learning about an "encroachment" on an orchard, and were assaulted there and robbed of the licensed gun, and that their vehicles were vandalised.

However, the villagers alleged that the minister's family members had taken exception to some children playing cricket there, and the situation went out of hand when Kumar fired a shot in the air.

The minister's son, who along with other injured persons is admitted to a hospital, has asserted that no shot was fired.

''Both sides got injured due to stone-pelting. They (victim's kin) were hurling bricks... No firing by my son, the revolver was snatched. All these are mere rumours to defame...,'' Bihar Tourism Minister Narayan Prasad said.

Heavy police deployment has been made in the area to maintain order and further investigation is underway, said the SP.