Bihar BJP Chief's House Vandalised, He Claims Attackers Intended To 'Blow Up' Building

This was the second such incident in the state on the same day as earlier a mob attacked the residence of  Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi in the same town in Paschim Champaran district.

Protests against Agnipath scheme turned violent as protestors torched trains and vandalised public property.

Source : PTI

New Delhi:  As protests over the new military recruitment scheme, Agnipath turned violent in Bihar, and elsewhere in the country, the protestors on Friday vandalised Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal’s residence in Bettiah town, reported news agency PTI. 

This was the second such incident in the state on the same day as earlier a mob attacked the residence of  Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi in the same town in Paschim Champaran district, although the state BJP leader  was away in Patna. 

Speaking to reporters in Bettiah, Jaiswal, the local MP, however, claimed that he had identified many of the attackers who were "not army aspirants" and that they had come with the intention of "blowing up" the building. 

"My house here was attacked as part of a planned conspiracy. Stones were hurled and attempts were made to set it ablaze by pouring diesel. A cylinder bomb (contraption made of LPG cylinders) has also been left behind by the mob which clearly had the intention of blowing up the building," he said, quoted by the news agency. 

Jaiswal, who has been a trenchant critique of the Nitish Kumar government in the state despite his party being an alliance partner, rued "lack of sufficient alertness on part of the administration".

"However, CCTV cameras are installed at my home. The administration is examining these and hopefully it will take appropriate action. I was myself inside the house and I have identified at least 100 of the attackers. I must add none of them was an army aspirant," said Jaiswal, without elaborating.

Earlier in the day, the mob had vandalised Devi’s house although she was away in Patna. 

"It is the handiwork of opposition-sponsored goons. Aggrieved students would not target BJP leaders," Devi had alleged, citing the vandalisation of a petrol pump owned by a close relative of Jaiswal.

In the adjoining Motihari town, BJP MLA Vinay Bihari’s vehicle was attacked during the day though the legislator escaped unhurt from the badly damaged car.