AAP-BJP clashes: FIR against Ashutosh, Shazia

Charges of rioting, obstructing public servant, damaging public property have been slapped against them

The Delhi police arrested 14 people on charges of rioting a day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers clashed in front of the latter's headquarters in the national capital.

They have been booked on charges of rioting and obstructing police officers in discharge of their duties, police sources said. AAP spokespersons Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi and Anand Kumar have also been reportedly named in the FIR. However, Business Standard couldn't confirm this.

According to police sources, an FIR was registered last night at the Parliament Street police station on charges of rioting, damage to public property and obstructing public servants in performing their duties.

AAP leader Prashant Bhushan would be writing to the Election Commission and the Delhi police opposing the move. However, Bhushan told Business Standard that the party has not received the copy of the FIR yet.

Those arrested would be produced before the local court in the afternoon today.

On Wednesday, the AAP volunteers, including Ashutosh and Ilmi, had clashed with BJP workers outside the saffron party's Delhi and Lucknow headquarters after Arvind Kejriwal was detained briefly by the state police in Gujarat during his tour.

Kejriwal, who began his four-day tour of Gujarat, was detained for 30 minutes for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by travelling in a long carcade.

Things turned ugly during the clash as around 28 people were reportedly injured. Video footages showed the party workers using stones, chairs and lathis to attack each other.

Kejriwal apologized for the violent behavior of his party workers. "I apologise for their behaviour and I once again urge them to remain non-violent," Kejriwal told reporters.Tag: