The newly appointed AICC in-charge of Jharkhand, B K Hariprasad's first visit to the Congress Bhavan here was marred by a factional clash during which a gunshot was allegedly fired in the air.
Superintendent of police (city) Manoj Ratan said the police had received information that a gunshot was fired near the Congress Bhavan and the incident was being investigated.
A party leader said on condition of anonymity that two groups of the party indulged in heated verbal exchange following which the shot was fired by a person, apparently the bodyguard of a Congress leader.
Later, Hariprasad told a press conference "An incident happened outside the party (office). I have directed PCC President (Sukhdeo Bhagat) to investigate and submit the report to me within 24 hours."
If the report found any Congress man to have been involved in the incident, strict disciplinary action would be taken irrespective of the person's position in the party, he said.
When his attention was drawn to a video footage showing a man shooting from inside Congress Bhavan, Hariprasad said he was a witness that nothing had happened inside the campus.
"Differences happen, but it should be within limits and one should not lose one's cool," Hariprasad, who has taken over from Shakeel Ahmed said.
Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay, AICC secretary Gitashree Oraon, PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat, Congress leader Tarachand Bhagora, party leader Furkan Ansari, MLA Manan Malik and other leaders were present in the meeting with Hariprasad, party sources said.
A police posse was deployed inside the Congress Bhavan campus.
