10 injured in BJP, Cong workers clash over construction of gym

At least 10 people, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were today injured in a clash between BJP and Congress workers over construction of a gymnasium in Town Hall park here, prompting police to use tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse them.
Congress workers led by party's youth wing chief Amarpreet Singh Lally and MLA Parminder Singh Pinki gathered at Udham Singh Chowk and marched towards the municipal corporation to protest the alleged denial of permission for setting up a gymnasium through contributions from Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni under MPLAD scheme.
Police stopped them outside the MC office and soon after, BJP workers, who were inside its premises, and Congress men started hurling stones at each other.

As the situation went out of control, more police personnel were called in, and tear gas shells and water cannons were used to disperse the crowd.
"At least 10 people, including a DSP, two SHOs and some media persons, were injured in the clash. Some unidentified persons also fired gun shots in the air," police said.
Lally alleged the BJP workers with the connivance of police attacked the Congressmen, who were staging a "peaceful" protest.
SSP Manminder Singh said, "Police prevented Congress workers from entering the MC office else things would have taken an ugly turn."
Municipal Corporation president Ashwani Grover said the Congress MLA did not have permission for construction of the gym and "now he has made it a prestige issue".