Tension prevailed in Sisoli village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh after supporters of Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Mahender Singh Tikait clashed with police trying to arrest him for allegedly making derogatory remarks against state Chief Minister Mayawati, leaving a dozen policemen injured.
Uttar Pradesh government has sounded an alert in all the districts of Western Uttar Pradesh and paramilitary forces rushed to the area to avoid any untoward incident.
"Over a dozen policemen, including Superintendent of Police and ASP Bijnore Gyan Singh and Man Singh Chauhan, were injured in Sisoli village when police tried to arrest Tikait, who had made derogatory statement against Mayawati at Kisan Swabhiman Rally held in Bijnor on Sunday," Assistant Director General (Law and Order) Brijlal told media persons in Lucknow.
An FIR had been registered against the BKU leader under the SC/ST Atrocities (prevention) Act.
When a police team tried to arrest Tikait in his native Sisoli village, villagers resorted to violence, injuring over a dozen policemen, including Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bijnor.
The ADG said that Tikait was still in the village Panchayat office and over 1000-1500 villagers had surrounded him to prevent his arrest.
Though unconfirmed reports said two villagers were injured in the clashes, police maintained that no locals were injured in the incident.
Brijlal said police only used tear gas shells and rubber bullets while villagers used illegal firearms to prevent the police from entering the village. Heavy police force, including 400 Rapid Action Force and PAC personnel, has been deployed in the village and senior officers including IG, DIG were camping there.
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