BJP leaders seek probe into ‘assault’ on activists

AGRA: The BJP, which till now was distancing itself from the protests lodged by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists on Saturday, changed its stand as party leaders visited the imprisoned activists in the district jail on Tuesday.

Thereafter, the delegation comprising seven BJP MLAs and an MP from Agra, met IG (police) Sujeet Pandey and demanded action against the police staff allegedly involved in beating activists after their arrest.

However, SSP (Agra) Preetinder Singh denied that any activist was assaulted in custody. “Allegations of those arrested from Sadar and Fatehpur Sikri police stations being beaten up in custody are baseless,” he stated.

Ram Shankar Katheria, MP demanded a high level inquiry into the alleged assault on arrested activists. “The matter will be taken up with the chief minister for action against the guilty,” he stated after meeting the IG. BJP MPs and MLAs attended a meeting at ‘Madhav Bhavan’ (RSS office) in Agra on Tuesday. After that, seven of the nine MLAs along with a party MP reached the district jail to meet 14 arrested activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal. BJP MLA from Etmadpur, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan raised question on the way the police handled the protests lodged by Bajrang Dal and VHP activists at Fatehpur Sikri and Sadar police stations on Saturday. “These activists were lodging peaceful protest but police resorted to lathi-charge. The arrested activists were unnecessarily shifted to other police station and were beaten up in police custody,” alleged Chauhan.

Getting support of RSS and BJP for the first time after Saturday, VHP vice president for Braj Prant, Sunil Parashar demanded action against officials and policemen ‘guilty’ of atrocities on those arrested.

“Those reaching the police station to meet the arrested activists were beaten and those in custody were moved to Sadar police station and beaten badly after being shifted to Chhatta police station in Agra. Vehicles left on the spot of agitation were damaged and activists in custody were beaten again at district hospital where they were taken for medical examination,” stated Parashar.

“The arrested activists revealed that they were abused and subjected to insult by policemen. This has been narrated to IG (Agra) and we expect commissioner (Agra division) and DIG (Agra range) to visit district jail and meet the activists to know more about what happened with our activists” said the VHP leader.

Allegations of those arrested from Sadar and Fatehpur Sikri police stations being beaten up in custody are baseless PREETINDER SINGH, SSP (Agra)