A VHP activist, along with his business associate, was thrashed and handed over to the police for allegedly donning a burqa and sneaking into a gathering of women at a place of worship, a charge denied by the brother of the accused who claimed that it was a fabricated case.
The incident took place at Umarpur village in Mauaima police station area of the district’s trans-Ganga region, about 40 kms from the city, on Sunday.
Abhishek Yadav and his business partner Atif had visited an Imambara where a function in the run up to Moharram was being held, police station in-charge Satinder Singh said.
He said Yadav, whose wife is a member of the Zila Panchayat, had reached the venue allegedly wearing a burqa which enabled him to sit close to the women.
An outcry ensued when some people caught a glimpse of his jeans and sports shoes underneath the burqa, following which the men present at the Imambara ripped off his burqa and beat him up besides thrashing Atif who had tried to intervene.
According to Singh, Yadav, who was an active member of the VHP, has been booked in the past for rioting and creating communal disturbances.
A case was registered against him yesterday and IPC sections for similar offences on Sunday.