Shimla, Jan 29 (Agencies) Nearly two dozen BJP activists and ABVP supporters were injured, five of them seriously, after they clashed with Youth Congress workers who had assembled outside the BJP office to protest against the Central government’s Land Acquisition Ordinance here on Thursday.

The police resorted to lathicharge as an open fight broke out. Three FIRs have been lodged – one each by the two political parties and the third one by the police. Two police personnel also sustained injuries in the scuffle, said Superintendent of Police D W Negi
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Heavy stone pelting and fierce exchange of brick-bats took place causing damage to the window panes and doors of the BJP office. Three BJP women workers had a narrow escape during the clash.

Those injured included president of ABVP’s state unit Sunil Thakur ,youth wing vice-president Karan Nanda, district BJP vice-president Rajesh Sharda, Bilal Ahmed and Inder Thakur. All the injured were referred to IGMC.

This happened in the presence of the police which was deployed this morning after BJP’s spokesman Ganesh Dutt had alerted SP Negi.

Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh said that their protest was peaceful but BJP workers provoked them. He said that they were protesting against the ordinance outside the BJP office when some BJP leaders started throwing stones at them and attacked them with sharp weapons.

Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar said the police were investigating the incident. “I have asked SP Shimla to take appropriate action against those who resorted to violence. We will not permit such incidents although everyone is free to hold peaceful protests,” he said.

BJP seeks dismissal of Congress government

Opposition BJP demanded an immediate dismissal of the Congress government and lodged an FIR against Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh for a ‘planned’ attack on the party office.

Party spokesman Ganesh Dutt told a press conference here that the Youth Congress had resorted to goondaism against the opposition exceeding all limits of decency of democratic protests. This kind of action will not be tolerated as the party was fully capable of responding to such provocations, but in a democratic manner unlike Youth Congress hooliganism,” Dutt said.

Dutt said the BJP’s top leadership has taken the incident very seriously and protest has already been lodged by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal with Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar.

“Tomorrow, state BJP president Satpal Satti along with other leaders and MLAs including Prof Dhumal will meet Governor Kalyan Singh and submit a memorandum seeking dismissal of the government for resorting to lawlessness and attacks on the opposition office. Protests will also be held at all district headquarters if the police did not arrest Vikramaditya Singh and other accused.” he said.