A protest called by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to gherao the Congress state headquarters turned into a violent battlefield on Saturday. Despite heavy police presence, workers from both political factions engaged in fierce clashes, stone-pelting, and stick-fights, leaving several individuals from both sides with serious injuries. The BJP Yuva Morcha had organised the demonstration to protest against Congress’s recent agitation during the Delhi AI Summit. Anticipating trouble, the police had installed multi-layered barricades nearly 100 meters from the Congress office on Link Road-1. However, the security arrangements proved insufficient to contain the surging crowd.

 

At approximately 3:30 pm, hundreds of Yuva Morcha activists, led by state president Shyam Tailor, marched toward the Congress office while raising slogans. Although initially halted at the barricades, several protesters scaled the structures and bypassed the police line. Within minutes, a large group reached the gates of the Congress office. The situation spiralled out of control when Congress workers, who had gathered at the premises armed with sticks, confronted the protesters. A brief period of pushing and shoving quickly escalated into a violent confrontation where stones were hurled and sticks were used as weapons.

 

For nearly thirty minutes, the area remained a zone of chaos. Congress workers were forced to lock themselves inside the office as sloganeering and stone-pelting continued outside. Reports indicate that BJP Yuva Morcha activists tore down posters and banners displayed on the building’s exterior. The mob eventually dispersed after a stern ultimatum from senior police officials. Immediately following the dispersal, Congress leaders staged a counter-protest near the barricades, accusing the police of complicity. Sanjay Kamble, General Secretary of the State Congress Committee, questioned the police’s negligence, noting that while Congress protests are usually blocked a kilometre away, BJP workers were allowed to reach the office gates.

 

Counter claims and political blame game: BJP Yuva Morcha President Shyam Tailor defended the protest, stating that Congress had brought shame to the nation with their demonstrations at the AI Summit. He asserted that the Morcha would not be intimidated by what he termed as Congress hooliganism. In response, former minister P C Sharma led a sit-in at the Habibganj police station. Former district president Monu Saxena claimed the violence was a sign of BJP’s fear of Rahul Gandhi.

 

He identified several injured Congress workers, including Gopil Kotwal and Pradip Ahirwar, who sustained serious injuries, alongside senior leaders Amit Khatri and Hemant Narwaria. Late Saturday evening, the police registered an FIR at the Habibganj police station based on a complaint filed by Pradip Ahirwar. The FIR named seven individuals, Pramod Rajput, Swapnil Wankhede, Divyarishi Tiwari, Gautam Chauhan, Hani Vishwakarma, Ajay Sahu and Pramod Rathore, along with 50 to 60 unidentified persons. Authorities stated that further action would be taken based on CCTV footage and ongoing probe.