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17 cops, 8 BSP demonstrators hurt in clash

Eight BSP workers were also injured when police resorted to caning to disperse the demonstrators who wanted to march to Parliament and on the opening day of the budget session. Police lobbed four teargas shells to quell the mob.

The demonstrators, led by BSP chief Kanshi Ram, were protesting alleged atrocities committed against their leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati by the state government and the ''anti-Dalit attitude'' of the central government. Police said 40 demonstrators, including Kanshi Ram and another party leader Phool Chand, were arrested and charged with rioting. Kanshi Ram and Phool Chand were however later released on bail.

The trouble began when the demonstrators insisted on following a particular route to Jantar Mantar in the commercial hub of the capital from where they planned to march to Parliament where the house was in session. Police said the route being busy, permission was denied; they were offered an alternative route which was not acceptable to them. The demonstrators turned violent and broke two barricades. They also threw stones at the police.

The police resorted to caning when teargas shells failed to disperse the demonstrators.

Mayawati, Opposition flay BJP for 'anti-Dalit' policies

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