Varanasi: Mau police have registered an FIR against eight named individuals and around 400 unidentified people after a protest march by INDIA bloc constituents turned chaotic on Oct 5.The march, jointly organized by the Samajwadi Party, Congress and CPM under the slogan “Save Vote, Save Nation,” began from Jeevan Ram Hostel Ground and proceeded toward the Collectorate. A large number of party workers participated in the demonstration.According to police, when the procession reached Azamgarh Tirahe, protesters allegedly attempted to burn an effigy of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police intervened and tried to seize the effigy, leading to a scuffle in which four sub-inspectors and one constable suffered burn injuries to their hands.On the complaint of Bhiti outpost in charge Rajesh Kumar, Kotwali Nagar police registered the FIR on Tuesday evening. The named accused include SP leader Mayank Pandey, Ajay Yadav alias Priyanshu, Shahnawaz Alam, Ravi Prakash, Akhilesh Bharti, Ashish Yadav, Devendra Pandey alias Satyam and Amarnath alias Bholu Pandit.Police said CCTV footage from the incident site and nearby intersections is being examined. Video clips, photographs and other evidence are being collected to identify the unidentified accused.After the incident at Azamgarh Tirahe, protesters moved through Ghazipur Tirahe and reached near the DM’s office in the Collectorate premises. Police alleged that another attempt was made there to burn an effigy and obstruct official work. Personnel deployed at the spot stopped the protesters and brought the situation under control.Those injured in the incident were identified as sub-inspectors Rajesh Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Yogendra Singh and Ambrish Kumar Pandey, along with Constable Rahul.Police also said that an earlier FIR had been lodged on July 22 against SP leader Mayank Pandey, a vice-president known as Sonu Pandit, and 25 unidentified people. That case related to a march taken out by SP workers from Bal Niketan to the Collectorate via Ghazipur Tirahe in protest against an incident in Delhi.
