Author: PTI
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: September 7, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/07bjp.htm
Seven persons were seriously injured as the
convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Yogi Adityanath was
attacked on Sunday by angry protesters while he was on his way to address
an anti-terrorism rally in Azamgargh district of Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP leader from Gorakhpur was whisked
to safety by his supporters as dozens of people armed with sticks attacked
his convoy pelting stones at it and trying to torch the vehicles in Takia
area, police sources said.
The rally was organised by BJP and Hindu Yuva
Vahini to protest a meeting organised in support of SIMI activist Abdul Bashar
after his arrest on August 11.
Firing from both sides also took place in
which over half a dozen people were seriously injured, they said. Later, police
reached the spot and fired tear gas shells and bullets in the air to disperse
both supporters and protesters.
The official vehicles of superintendent of
police, Vijay Kumar Garg and the chief development officer were also damaged
in the incident.
Senior police and administration officials
have reached the spot and the situation is under control, Home department
sources here said.
Adityanath, later addressed the rally at another
venue in the city and criticised those patronising terrorists.
Calling for strict action against such elements,
he said petty politics should not be played in such matters as they were related
to the country's security.
He also said that those organising meetings
and protesting arrest of terrorists and their agents were anti-nationals who
should be brought to book.
