BJP MLA arrested for Muzaffarnagar riots

The UP BJP chief says the party will defend its leaders in courts

BJP legislator Suresh Rana, one of the politicians accused in the Muzaffarnagar communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, was finally arrested here on Friday, police said.

Rana was taken into custody while going to Gomtinagar locality from the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here, Inspector General of Police R.K. Vishwakarma told the news agency.

A legislator from Bhawan in Muzaffarnagar, Rana has been booked under the Indian Penal Code and section 7 of the Criminal Amendment Act, which is a non-bailable offence, the official said.

The Muzaffarnagar police had some days ago issued an arrest warrant for Rana in line with a judicial ruling.

As news of Rana's arrest spread, several of his supporters reached the Gomtinagar police station and tried to prevent police from taking him away to an undisclosed destination.

Similar arrest warrants have been issued against 16 political leaders including four BJP legislators, a Congress leader and a Bahujan Samaj Party MP.

All of them have been accused of inciting people in Muzaffarnagar, where communal violence this month left more than 40 people dead and thousands displaced.

Laxmikant Bajpayi, the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, told the news agency that the party will defend its leaders in courts.

He accused the Samajwadi Party government of acting against BJP leaders without proof and in order to "appease the minority community".