10 cops suspended, five others held for attacks on lovebirds

RAIPUR - The Chhattisgarh government suspended 10 policemen Monday, a day after several girls and boys were attacked by activists of Hindu right wing group Dharma Sena opposed to Friendship Day celebrations in capital Raipur. Five people have been arrested.

The decision was announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the assembly amid an opposition protest over the issue.

“As many as 10 policemen were suspended and five people were arrested Monday and the government would make more arrests soon,” Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar told the house, amid opposition’s demand for his resignation.

Congress members raised slogans during zero hour displaying photographs that appeared in local newspapers in which youths reportedly belonging to the Dharma Sena were seen kicking, punching and thrashing girls and boys in Raipur’s gardens and hotels as part of Friendship Day activities.

The Congress members termed the incident as “a communal thinking of the state government as the incident took place in presence of policemen”.

The act was orchestrated by goons of the BJP, the opposition alleged, prompting the home minister to announce the suspension of the policemen.