Tension prevailed in Bharthana area of Etawah after supporters of Bharatiya Janta Party and Samajwadi Party came to a head over a bandh called by the latter on Friday.
Several persons from both sides including local policemen were injured in the face off and had to be admitted to the district hospital. The SP workers had called a bundh to protest the arrest of former party MlA Pradeep Yadav in Auraiya on Wednesday.
As per reports, angry SP workerrs and leaders started forcing shopkeepers in Bharthana to down their shutters on Friday morning. This was immediately opposed by BJP workers and leaders which led to a face off and snowballed into a frenzied clash.
leaders and workers of both BJP and SP fought pitched battle on the streets, pelting stones at each other and some of them even opened fire rendering the situation more tense on Friday.
After their efforts failed to calm the situation, the police used mild force to disperse the mob. Several BJP and SP workers sustained injuries during the clash.
SSP of Etawah, Vaibhav Krishna said that the situation was tense in Bharthana but under control. He said that the police were investigating the firing.
However, Etawah distrcit BJP chief Shiv Mahesh Dubey charged the SP activists of ransacking shops who were not downing their shutters which led to the BJP workers to oppose it. later BJP MlA from Bharthana Savtri Katheria too reached the spot in support of the BJP workers.
Meanwhile, an Auraiyya court sent former MlA Pradeep Yadav to a 14-day judicial custody. last Wednesday, SP activists led by Yadav engaged in violence while protesting irregularities, opted during nomination of District Panchayat Chairman bypolls. Candidates of the BJP and the SP are in a direct fight in the bypolls to be held on August 23.
On Thursday, SP president Akhilesh Yadav too tried to reach Auraiyya amd meet Pradeep Yadav but authorities detained him along with other leaders at Unnao. later more than 1000 SP workers were arrested in different parts of the state for protesting the detention of the SP chief.