Lucknow, Oct 13 (PTI) Stones and bricks were thrown at Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad and his supporters on Monday when the religious leader went to inspect a site, allegedly under encroachment, at the Karbala in the Abbas Bagh area, according to police.
There were no casualties, except a car, which suffered some damage in the attack, they said.
After the incident, Jawad staged a sit-in at the site with his supporters, accusing the police of negligence.
He ended his dharna after assurance from a senior officer of stern action against the attackers.
Thakurganj Station House Officer (SHO) Omveer Singh Chauhan said a complaint had been received in connection with the attack and an FIR would be registered.
According to the complaint, filed by Karbala caretaker Sarim Mehdi, Jawad was on his way to the site, allegedly under encroachment, when his group was attacked.
Jawwad told PTI he was attacked moments after he reached Karbala.
“I had gone to the Karbala at Abbas Bagh after hearing about an illegal construction. As I arrived, I was targeted by the mafia elements. They also raised religious slogans to give the situation a communal colour,” he said.
The cleric claimed he had given a police complaint against the “same elements” a few months ago, but the police took no action.
“Today’s situation wouldn’t have arrived had the police acted against these elements earlier,” he said.
“We will court arrest if the police fail to act against the accused this time. There is evidence against them, and the police have to act now,” he said.
Jawad earlier told reporters at the sit-in that he was attacked by “goons” and that police took an inordinate time in responding to the attack.
He claimed the attack was an attempt on his life.
The cleric said he had full faith in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s campaign against illegal constructions and expressed hope that the encroachments on the Karbala land would also be removed.
Police said the situation at the site was under control. PTI AR ABN MAN VN VN
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