Youth Congress, BJYM activists clash in Shimla; 12 injured

At least 12 activists of both the Youth Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha were injured during a protest here against the central government's land acquisition ordinance, the police said.

The Youth Congress activists, led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh, held the protest. During the demonstration, the activists smashed the windowpanes of the BJP's party office, police said.

Vikramaditya Singh is the state Youth Congress president.

Eyewitnesses said more than 100 Youth Congress activists protested outside the BJP office.

"They were staging a protest outside the BJP office. Then some of them suddenly entered the building and went on the rampage. They broke windowpanes and ransacked the office. One of our woman colleagues suffered injuries," state BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt told IANS.

Countering the allegations, Vikramaditya Singh said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists attacked the peaceful demonstrators.

Four seriously injured BJYM activists were rushed to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here. One of them has been referred to the PGI in Chandigarh.

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.

Later, a delegation of Youth Congress submitted a memorandum to Governor Kalyan Singh, demanding withdrawal of the union government's land acquisition ordinance.