The mahapanchayat called by former Khanpur MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, whose house in Landhaura area of Roorkee was recently attacked by members of a community, was today foiled by the district administration which did not allow him or his supporters to enter here.
Due to section 144 and heavy deployment of police and para-military personnel in the area, Champion could not hold the mahapanchayat there, Additional District Magistrate Jivan Singh Nangiyal said.
The proposed venue of the mahapanchayat was sealed by the police well in advance and Champion's supporters were not allowed to proceed beyond Sherpur in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, he said.
However, Champion met his supporters and thanked them for their support.
He convinced them that holding a mahapanchayat when section 144 is in force in Haridwar district would not be appropriate. The BJP leader urged them to wait for another date for the programme.
Alleged forcible evacuation of a scrap-dealer's shop and desecration of a holy book by Champion's uncle and his supporters had triggered violent clashes between members of two communities at Landhaura prompting the police to intervene.
The clashes had left 32 people injured.
Subsequently, a mob had attacked Champion's house, setting
vehicles parked there ablaze.
Champion was one of the nine rebel Congress MLAs who had raised a banner of revolt against the Harish Rawat government in Uttarakhand.
He has since joined BJP.
