RSS workers attack TV office

The police said at 5.30 pm,members of the saffron brigade assembled in front of the building,shouting slogans against a a story by Headlines Today that alluded to a plot by the Hindutva terror brigade to assassinate Vice President Hamid Ansari,as well as a report on a sting operation that claimed senior leaders of the RSS may have been aware of the terror strikes on Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif dargah.

The crowd pelted stones at the police and the guards posted outside the building,following which they barged into the building,pelting stones,smashing window panes and damaging a cafeteria.

The police admitted they had not anticipated such a large crowd would assemble in front of the building. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Jaspal Singh said initally they thought there would be a crowd of 100 to 200 protesters. “Eventually,there was a mob of 2,000-strong people,” Singh said.

Singh added that 10 to 12 people have been detained and booked for unlawful assembly and for not abiding by the instructions of a public servant. Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said reinforcements were sent to the spot and the situation was brought under control.

Hours before the attack,the BJP had expressed strong displeasure over the sting operation. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “We condemn the attempt to condemn BJP and RSS leaders based on spurious evidence,” he said.

The BJP also dissociated itself from the activities of its leader B L Sharma ‘Prem’,who according to audio tapes available with the CBI,was reportedly present at a meeting with a few accused in the Malegaon blasts case in 2008,where a failed assassination bid on Vice President Hamid Ansari was discussed.