AAP says its workers cane-charged by police; cops deny claim

The Madhya Pradesh unit of AAP today said eight of its workers, including a senior office- bearer, were injured when they were cane-charged by the police during a protest here, a claim denied by the law enforcers.
The party said the police cane-charged their workers when they tried to gherao Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence here over an alleged power purchase scam in the BJP-ruled state.
The AAP workers were moving towards the chief minister's house when the police intercepted them near Dussehra Maidan in TT Nagar, where the party held a public meeting earlier in the day.
"The police cane-charged the workers when they tried to march towards Chouhan's residence," Madhya Pradesh AAP's media in-charge Dushyant Dangi said.

Eight party activists, including state convener Alok Agrawal and senior woman member Laxmi Chouhan, were injured and taken to Hamidia Hospital for treatment, he said.
Police, however, said the protesters were not cane- charged. They said the AAP was given permission only for the public meeting and not the march.

"After holding the public meeting, the workers started running on the road leading to the CM house, creating a stampede-like situation. They were given permission only to hold the rally at Dussehra Maidan and not to march towards the CM house," ASP Rajesh Singh Chandel said.
He said no force was used against the protesters.

During the rally, the AAP leaders alleged the BJP government had signed power purchase agreements with six companies in contravention of rules.