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| Ranchi |
"The police opened fire after a mob threw crude bombs and stones injuring seven policemen. One person killed in firing," Senior Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar, told PTI.
The minister who was protesting the anti-encroachment drive for the last few days and was on a sit-in since 10:00 am was arrested, the SSP said.
Sahay claimed that the fatality of the firing was a boy who was sitting before him. "I was shocked," he said adding that the police also damaged five cars in which his supporters had accompanied him.
"Since I am a Union minister, I thought someone (officials) will brief me about it, but the police resorted to barbaric action instead."
His assistant, Ravikant Kapoor, claimed that the minister and several of his supporters were injured in the police lathicharge.
The anti-encroachment drive was taken up at the directive of the Jharkhand High Court.
Earlier, Sahay said he had spoken to Chief Secretary S K Choudhary yesterday urging him not to go ahead with the demolition drive before making alternative arrangements.
JPCC General Secretary Sailesh Sinha condemned the firing and accused the government of conspiracy in arresting the Union minister.
The Congress announced a dawn-to-dusk Ranchi bandh on Thursday in protest against the police firing and lathicharge on demonstrators, including Congress leaders.
Sources: http://news.in.msn.com
