Hindu Mahasabha leaders booked for announcing Rs 5 lakhs reward for those who 'behead' Swami Agnivesh

Two senior leaders of Hindu Mahasabha have been booked for allegedly announcing a reward of Rs 5 lakh to anybody who "beheads" social activist Swami Agnivesh.

The right wing body's state president Ramesh Panoo and senior vice-president Dharmpal Siwach have been booked on the basis of a complaint filed by of Bandhua Mukti Morcha General Secretary Shoutaj Singh, a police spokesperson said here.

According to police, Singh has alleged that the two leaders had on April 23 told reporters at a PWD rest house that "Swami, who demands the release of traitor Masarat Alam, is himself a traitor in saffron clothing".

Claiming that Swami Agnivesh had an "understanding with terrorists", the duo had further announced a "prize of Rs 1 lakh for those who hit Swami five times with shoes and Rs 5 lakh for those who behead him", the complainant has alleged.

Singh claimed that the duo had also said that "those who make case for traitors do not deserve to be called Swami".

The police spokesperson said the two leaders have been booked under Sections 115 and 506 of IPC and that inquiries are on into the matter.