Cong, BJP lodge FIRs against each other over stone-pelting at rally

The BJP's Kota district unit has filed a counter-FIR in response to one lodged by the Congress' unit after the supporters of the two parties pelted stones at each other in Kundanpur area during a rally, the police said today.

The incident took place last night during a pre-poll tour, 'Vikas Gaurav Yatra', by Heeralal Nagar, BJP MLA from Sangod, they said.

Congress supporters showed black flags to Heeralal Nagar. Later, BJP and Congress supporters pelted stones at each other, due to which few people sustained injuries and some vehicles were damaged, SHO Sangod Mahendra Kumar Meena said.

A counter-FIR has been lodged by the BJP's Om Nagar and district head Surendra Gochar, he said, adding that the matter is being investigated.

Heeralal Nagar accused the Congress of disrupting his yatra in Kundanpur and alleged that such incidents had happened in the past too in the area.

"We had information that the Congress will protest against the yatra. Congress supporters pelted stones on our 'rath' (chariot) and damaged two other vehicles. The police had to resort to baton charge and they lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd," the BJP MLA told PTI.

However, he denied that his supporters pelted stones in retaliation.

The term of the Rajasthan Assembly will end on January 20, 2019. The state will go to polls in November-December 2018.