landhaura village of Haridwar district turned into a battleground on Wednesday with groups of people taking to the streets.
It was alleged that the followers of one of the rebel Congress leaders, Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, who had recently switched to the BJP, desecrated a holy book and manhandled some people.
The protesters blocked the traffic on landhaura Road and torched vehicles following which a heavy contingent of police was deployeed. With tension spiralling in the area, police resorted to lathicharge to control the mobs. Section 144 was also imposed. Over 20 people, including some police personnel, were reportedly injured.
Notably, the market situated at landhaura bus stand is owned by Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, the former legislator from Khanpur constituency. It is alleged that the elder brother of the former MlA went to get a shop in the market vacated for nonpayment of rent for a long time. The locals allege that he threw out the goods from the shop. And this is reported to have led to altercation and some people pelting stones. A car was also set on fire by mobs. The cops had a tough time in controlling the irate mobs, the locals said.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the DM and the SSP reached the spot while Congress workers too arrived and started sloganeering. According to a witness from the village, the mob entered Pranav Singh’s house, Rang Mahal, and vehicles were set on fire. Following this, police had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation. The mob pelted the police with stones too.
Over 20 people, including some police personnel, were injured and the condition of one of them is critical. Speaking to The Pioneer, Congress leader Rajender Chaudhary said, “The administration has brought the situation under control. Such an incident has never happened in Haridwar. All the communities have been living together in peace and harmony for ages.”
SSP Santhil Abudai Krishna Raj said that the situation was under control and Section 144 was imposed.