Himachal clash: Virbhadra Singh's son gets anticipatory bail

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh, who is among those accused of rioting and trespassing, obtained anticipatory bail from a court here Saturday, police said.

At least 12 activists of both Youth Congress and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) were injured Thursday in a clash during a demonstration here against the central government's land acquisition ordinance.

The Youth Congress activists, led by Vikramaditya Singh, have been accused of smashing the windowpanes of BJP's party office.

"Vikramaditya Singh moved an application in court of Judicial Magistrate Amit Mandyal. The court granted the interim bail and also asked the police to file the reply by Feb 4," a police official told IANS.

A day after the clash, Himachal Pradesh Governor Kalyan Singh summoned Director General Police Sanjay Kumar, Additional Director General S.R. Mardi and Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi, seeking the report which led to the violence.

The opposition BJP met Kalyan Singh here and submitted a memorandum, demanding dismissal of the government.

"Everyone has the right to protest in democracy but what was the justification to hold a protest against the central government's some decision outside the BJP's office by the Youth Congress activists," said the memorandum.

"It seemed that it was an act of conspiracy as the protest was led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the Youth Congress president," the memorandum said.

The memorandum was submitted by BJP legislators led by two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi told reporters both the BJYM and the Youth Congress have lodged first information reports, accusing each other of indulging in violence.