Charges framed against BSP MP, 11 others

Charges were framed against 12 BSP activists, including an MP Kadir Rana, today in a six-year-old rioting case in a sessions court here, officials said.

The accused have been charged under various sections of rioting and damaging public property in the court of additional district sessions magistrate SK Banerji here.

On Tuesday, the court had issued a bailable warrant against Rana for not appearing before it for framing of charges in the case.

According to the prosecution, Rana along with 11 other party activists held violent protests outside the district magistrate's residence in which several policemen were injured and many police vehicles burnt. They were protesting against the arrest of a party candidate, Shahnawaz Rana, during Lok Sabha elections in 2004. 

Shahnawaz, who is currently the member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Bijnore, was arrested for violating model code of conduct at the behest of election commissioner.