Stone-pelting outside Congress office in Jamshedpur leaves over 10 injured
Jamshedpur: More than 10 people were injured after a protest over the JNU episode triggered a violent clash between BJP and Congress workers outside the Congress headquarters, Tilak Pustakalaya, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, on Monday.
Those injured in the stone-pelting and scuffle included former BJP district president Dinesh Kumar and a Congress vice-president. Both sustained serious head injuries. The incident sparked chaos in the area, prompting police to deploy additional forces amid the tense situation.
The BJP Mahanagar Mahila Morcha had planned a protest outside the Congress headquarters, demanding action against Manipur Congress MP and former JNU professor Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, including his arrest and dismissal. Akoijam has been accused of sexually harassing women students at the university.
As scheduled, BJP workers gathered at the G Town Club ground in Bistupur at around 11.30 am and marched towards the Congress office.
When the BJP workers reached the Congress headquarters, workers from the two parties came face-to-face.
Both sides began raising slogans, followed by a heated exchange of words that soon escalated into violence. Sticks and stones were allegedly used by workers from both sides to target each other. Several workers from both parties sustained bleeding injuries in the clash.
It was not immediately clear which side initiated the violence.
Local police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and brought the situation under control. A heavy police contingent was deployed in the Bistupur area of Jamshedpur as a precautionary measure.
Police officials said the injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities are examining video footage and other evidence to identify those involved in the violence.
Police said strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible for disturbing law and order and indulging in stone-pelting.
A detailed investigation into the incident is underway, they said.