Seven persons were seriously injured as the convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Yogi Adityanath was attacked on Sunday by angry protesters while he was on his way to address an anti-terrorism rally in Azamgargh district of Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP leader from Gorakhpur was whisked to safety by his supporters as dozens of people armed with sticks attacked his convoy pelting stones at it and trying to torch the vehicles in Takia area, police sources said.
The rally was organised by BJP and Hindu Yuva Vahini to protest a meeting organised in support of SIMI activist Abdul Bashar after his arrest on August 11.
Firing from both sides also took place in which over half a dozen people were seriously injured, they said. Later, police reached the spot and fired tear gas shells and bullets in the air to disperse both supporters and protesters.
The official vehicles of superintendent of police, Vijay Kumar Garg and the chief development officer were also damaged in the incident.
Senior police and administration officials have reached the spot and the situation is under control, Home department sources here said.
Adityanath, later addressed the rally at another venue in the city and criticised those patronising terrorists.
Calling for strict action against such elements, he said petty politics should not be played in such matters as they were related to the country's security.
He also said that those organising meetings and protesting arrest of terrorists and their agents were anti-nationals who should be brought to book.
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