67 arrested, 8 minors detained for violence over MP Chandrashekhar Azad being stopped from visiting Prayagraj village

Prayagraj: Police have arrested 67 individuals and apprehended eight juveniles in connection with vandalism and stone-pelting incident at Bhadeora Bazaar on Sunday after the cops had stopped Nagina MP and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad from visiting a village.

DCP (Yamunapar) Vivek Chandra Yadav said on Monday that strict action would be taken against the accused under the National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangster Act. Compensation for damage to public property would also be recovered from the culprits as per legal provisions, he said.

Based on video footage and CCTV evidence, efforts are underway to identify and arrest other individuals involved in the incident, the officer said.

The DCP told PTI that 67 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident that took place under Karachhana police station limits. Additionally, eight juveniles involved in the violence have been taken into police custody.

The violence broke out after police stopped Chandrashekhar Azad from visiting Isohta village in Karachhana tehsil.

The DCP said workers of Azad's party had gathered in large numbers in Isohta village after hearing about the MP's planned visit. When they learned that Chandrashekhar Azad would not be arriving, the crowd became agitated and began pelting stones and damaging property.

He confirmed that a Dial 112 emergency vehicle and another car were damaged in the incident.

The unrest stems from an April 13 incident in which a man named Devishankar from Isohta village died of burn injuries. His family has alleged that he was murdered.

Chandrashekhar Azad, who had reached the Circuit House in Prayagraj to meet the family, was stopped by the police from proceeding to the village citing security concerns.