SP worker who ‘hired bouncers to sell tomatoes’ booked, 2 held

The police said Ajay Fauji circulated a video on social media to have hired two bouncers at a shop located in the Lanka area of Varanasi.

“The shop belongs to Raj Narayan Yadav. We found that Ajay along with others did this in a planned manner. He raised slogans against the government following which tension broke out in the locality,” said Lanka police station incharge Ashwani Pandey.

The Yadav are accused of allowing Ajay to “create nuisance” at their shop and being complicit in the act.

“Raj Narayan and his son were produced in a local court which sent them to judicial custody. Raids are on to trace Ajay Fauji,” said the SHO.

The FIR was lodged against Fauji, Raj Narayan, Vikas and two unidentified persons under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), 295-A (deliberate act to outrage religious feelings by insulting a religion) and 505 (2) (statements promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code.

SP district president Sujeet Yadav said, “People are being booked and arrested for hiring bouncers. Ajay Fauji is our party worker.”

A video showing two bouncers guarding the vegetable shop is doing round on social media. In another video, Fauji is seen moving with bouncers with some workers carrying tomatoes.