Protest in Sambhal over name change

Agitated by the change in name of the district from Bheemnagar to Sambhal, people on Wednesday indulged in brick batting and damaged a bus after which police resorted to lathicharge in Bahjoi town.

People blocked the national highway and when police attempted to clear the road, they pelted stones and damaged a roadways bus, superintendent of police said.
To disperse the mob, he said, police used mild force and the situation was brought under control.

Police said markets remained closed on the call given by Zila Bachao Samiti, which demanded that the district be named after its temporary headquarters Bahjoi instead of Sambhal.

On Monday Uttar Pradesh government had changed the names of eight districts which had been renamed by the previous Mayawati regime.

The decision in this regard was taken at a cabinet meeting on Monday chaired by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar would be known as Amethi and Rambai Nagar will be called Kanpur Dehat. The names of Bheem Nagar, Prabuddha Nagar and Pancheel Nagar were changed to Sambhal, Shamli and Hapur, respectively, they said.

Similarly, names of Kanshiram Nagar, Mahamaya Nagar and J P Nagar were changed to Kasganj, Hathras and Amroha, respectively.