Yashwant Sinha, Arjun Munda and at least 20 men and women were injured when police resorted to baton charge to disperse activists.
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, ex-Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda and at least 20 men and women were injured today when police resorted to baton charge to disperse activists of the saffron party who tried to gherao Raj Bhavan during a protest march.
Sinha, who suffered injury under the ear, escaped more blows when three of his bodyguards shielded him. They received serious head injuries as batons rained on them, sources said.
A shaken Sinha, who was seen protected by the profusely bleeding guards, said that he, along with Munda, were leading a peaceful march when they were 'mercilessly' baton charged.
"In a barbaric action, police beat us up, injuring several of our leaders. I am also injured. We would raise the issue in the Parliament," Sinha said.
Munda was injured in the right arm while senior BJP leader Saryu Roy suffered head injuries. Several others, including police and fire personnel, were sent to hospitals.
Sinha, Munda and other BJP leaders were leading the agitation demanding dissolution of the Assembly and pave way for elections. The routes leading to Raj Bhavan were fortified in the wake of the agitation.
The agitation led to a virtual shutdown of the state capital for a few hours with most vehicles staying off the road. Several schools remained closed as a precautionary measure.
Police said it had to resort to baton charge as hundreds of agitators broke open the first barricade, beat up some of their personnel before running towards the Raj Bhavan.
One of the heavily-bandaged bodyguards of Sinha, told newsmen that they were beaten while trying to protect Sinha after seeing blood oozing out of his ear.
Charging the administration with resorting to undemocratic means to stop the peaceful demonstration, Munda, leader of opposition in the Jharkhand assembly, questioned the delay in dissolving the Assembly to pave way for a fresh mandate.
Echoing Munda's views, Roy said exactly a month ago Shibu Soren had resigned from the chief minister's chair (on January 12) which led to calls for dissolution of the House and fresh elections.
BJP leaders claimed that women activists were beaten up even after they offered to surrender to the police.
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