The police and district administration also detained at least 50 activists who were staging a protest and dharna on 13 July.
Harda town in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday observed an almost complete bandh at the call of the Karni Sena to protest police lathi charge on its activists on 12 and 13 July.
Most shops and commercial establishments in the town downed their shutters since morning in response to the bandh call.
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The Karni Sena took out a peaceful rally, called the ‘Nyay Yatra’, with participants waving banners and posters without raising any slogans.
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On 13 July, police lobbed tear gas shells, used water cannons, and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse an unruly mob of Karni Sena activists, after hundreds of them staged a protest demanding the release of the Harda district Karni Sena president, who had been arrested during a demonstration on 12 July.
The police and district administration also detained at least 50 activists who were staging a protest and dharna on 13 July.
The protesters had gathered in large numbers, demanding the release of Karni Sena Harda district chief Sunil Rajput, along with other leaders, including Ashish Rajput. Sunil and Ashish were arrested on 12 July after leading a protest related to a fraud case involving Rs 18 lakh, lodged by Ashish Rajput against one Mohit Verma and two others.
Police had arrested Mohit Verma, but when he was being produced in a court on 12 July, Karni Sena activists arrived there and demanded that he be handed over to them. They staged a violent protest, prompting the police to resort to a lathi charge and subsequently detain Sunil, Ashish, and other activists.
In response, the Karni Sena activists staged another protest and road blockade on 13 July to demand the release of their arrested leaders.
Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters and fired tear gas shells. A lathi charge was also carried out to break the sit-in.
Police also detained around 50 activists and lodged them at the Rajput Hostel, which had been declared a temporary jail.
However, the detained activists alleged that the police had brutally caned them inside the hostel.
In response to the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav ordered an inquiry despite being on a tour abroad.
The Karni Sena is an organisation of the Rajput community.
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