Curfew in MP town after Bajrang Dal leader's killing

Curfew was imposed in parts of Vidisha town on Sunday as agitated mobs protesting the killing of a Bajrang Dal leader the previous day went on a rampage and set ablaze houses, shops and vehicles, police said.

Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Choudhary told IANS that violence erupted in the town after a group of six persons stabbed to death Deepak Kushwaha, a Bajrang Dal office bearer, here on Saturday.

Curfew has been imposed in Kotwali Police Station area, police patrolling increased and the law-keepers have launched a manhunt for the trouble-mongers. At some places, police personnel had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse crowds.

There were also reports of protests by Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists on Saturday in the town which falls in the parliamentary constituency of Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

The administration first slapped prohibitory orders, but when the situation turned worse following stone-pelting and vandalism by Bajrang Dal members, curfew was imposed. Many persons, including several policemen, were injured in the violence.

A large number of people took part in the funeral procession of the Bajrang Dal leader. Some of the mourners also indulged in vandalism and arson at some places in the city.

The local administration had to call in police reinforcements from the capital city of Bhopal to keep the situation under control.

--IANS

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