Hundreds of Samajwadi Party workers allegedly attempting self-immolation were assaulted by police with canes in Allahabad Friday, and three of them were arrested, police said.
The Samajwadi Party workers and activists were protesting the withdrawal of a ban by the Election Commission on campaigning by Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Amit Shah.
Accusing the EC of being prejudiced against the Samajwadi Party, the angry workers demanded that the gag order on Urban Development Minister Azam Khan be lifted.
"This is most unfortunate and we feel the decision by the poll panel is not fair," state Prisons Minister Rajendra Chowdhary, who is also a SP spokesman, told IANS.
