Rita joins BJP

UP’s ex-Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi joined the BJP ahead of polls.

Kolkata: Around 13 policemen and several BJP workers were injured in a clash, when party activists tried to break police barricades, while they were marching towards Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in protest against attack on Union minister Babul Supriyo. The protesters alleged that the police resorted to lathicharge. The police, however, denied the claim and said they only tried to disperse the agitators. The march to the Chief Minister’s residence was part of the BJP’s agitation to register protest against Wednesday’s attack on the Union minister at Asansol. Kolkata Police Joint CP (headquarters) Supratim Sarkar said, “BJP workers attempted to break police cordon, pelted stones, assaulted lady police personnel and damaged three police vehicles.” Four BJP activists and 13 policemen were injured in the clash. A total of 18 BJP workers were arrested, he said.