Bihar polls: Man arrested with air gun at Rahul Gandhi rally

The man seems to be mentally unstable and claimed that he had brought the weapon for his own protection, said officials

The Bihar Police today arrested a youth carrying an air gun at an election rally by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi at Ram Nagar in West Champaran district of Bihar.

Bagaha Police district Superintendent of Police Anand Kumar Singh said Gandhi had not reached the rally venue at Hazari Maidan when policemen caught the youth as he arrived at the main entrance with the air gun.

The youth has been identified as Tayyab Jaan, a resident of Jharmuhi village under Chautarwa Police Station in the district.

"He seems to be mentally unstable and claimed that he had brought the weapon for his own protection. We are investigating the entire episode in detail," Singh said.

He said a bag was also seized from the arrested youth. It contained a few clothes and pellets used in air guns.

He said police are inquiring into the antecedent of the youth.

Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally organised to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar. Though RJD President Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have given the programme a miss, Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav and JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi are representing the alliance partners.