Himachal CM's son told to join probe into clash

A court here Saturday asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh, whom the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has accused of rioting and trespassing, to join the police investigation.

A total of 12 activists of the Youth Congress and the BJYM had suffered injuries in a clash here Jan 29 during a demonstration against the central government's land acquisition ordinance.

Vikramaditya Singh had led the Youth Congress activists.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Padam Singh, hearing the confirmation of bail, extended Vikramaditya Singh's bail till Feb 9 while asking him to join the police investigation, an official told IANS.

The chief minister's son had appeared in the court for the first time.

Official sources said Vikramaditya Singh had recorded his statement Friday before additional district magistrate (law and order) D.K. Rattan who is conducting a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

After the clash, Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi had said both the BJYM and the Youth Congress lodged first information reports, accusing each other of indulging in violence.

Governor Kalyan Singh summoned Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar and sought a report over what led to the violence.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier submitted a memorandum to Kalyan Singh to demand the Congress government's dismissal.