Nishad Party MP, hundreds cane-charged, detained
GORAKHPUR :Hundreds of Nishad leaders including MP Praveen Nishad were cane-charged, doused with water canons and detained when they were marching towards the Gorakhnath Temple – the camp office of CM Yogi Adityanath – to submit a memorandum seeking reservation under SC, on Thursday.
A video of Praveen Nishad being hit repeatedly with sticks by police, during quota stir titled Halla Bol, has gone viral on the social media.
“People from the Nishad community are being cane-charged when they raise their voice for reservation, which is their basic right. We were going peacefully to submit a memorandum at the temple but we were hit by canes. In the coming election, these Nishads will teach BJP a lesson,” said Nishad Party chief Dr Sanjay Nishad, confirming that MP Praveen Nishad suffered injuries in the cane-charge.
Gorakhpur SSP Sunil Gupta said, “Permission for Bhagwanpur area was sought and when they started marching away from the permitted location, police tried to stop them but they were not ready to listen. To disburse the crowd, first water cannons were used and when it didn’t work, light force was used to disperse the crowd.”
Praveen Nishad alleged, “Police cane-charged us, including women, and there were no women constables. Around 100 people have been injured. Even I have received injuries in my hand.”