Shoe thrown at Rahul Gandhi in UP, assailant arrested (Lead, with Images)

A shoe was thrown at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday during his ongoing 'Kisan Yatra' in Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

A youth has been arrested in this connection and taken to the Kotwali police station for interrogation.

The shoe missed the Gandhi scion by a whisker and he looked back at the shoe as it zipped past him.

The assailant has been identified as Hari Om Mishra, resident of Hargaon, a police official told IANS.

Congress leader Jitin Prasada was with Gandhi at the time of the attack. Special Protection Group (SPG) men swung into action and surrounded the Congress leader after the shoe attack.

Mishra told policemen that he was angry at the promises being made by Rahul Gandhi during his road shows as he believed the Congress was behind the problems faced by farmers.

Gandhi started his 'Kisan Yatra' on Monday after a two-day break.

--IANS

md/rn