Protestors of the Hindu Rashtriya Sena on Monday attacked the offices of television channel Star News in Mumbai.
The protestors, angered that the channel had aired the grievance of a couple -- a 23-year-old Muslim boy and a 16-year-old Hindu girl -- who had eloped from Surat, claiming that their parents were harassing them.
The protestors beat up security guards and damaged many cars. A protestor hit a security guard on the chest with a hammer. The guard had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.
The police said 18 people were detained.
"These men barged in with saffron flags and hammers. They started smashing the windscreens and tail lamps of vehicles. They also threw a hammer at us. But luckily, we escaped," said an employee.
On Thursday, the couple had ridden directly to the offices of Star News, after which the police arrested the boy -- identified as Kadir Khan -- on charges of kidnapping a minor girl. The girl was sent back to Surat.
PTI adds:
Condemning the attack, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that it was that of "cowards" and against democracy.
They should have courted arrest or registered their complaint, he said.