This story is from July 18, 2018

Saffron brigade thrashes Agnivesh over tribal event

Social activist Swami Agnivesh was kicked, punched and showed black flags allegedly by a group of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers and ABVP activists in Pakur, Jharkhand, on Tuesday.
Saffron brigade thrashes Agnivesh over tribal event
Alleged BJYM workers thrash social activist Swami Agnivesh during his visit to Pakur district in Jharkhand for a programme on Tuesday
DUMKA/RANCHI: Social activist Swami Agnivesh was kicked, punched and showed black flags allegedly by a group of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers and ABVP activists in Pakur, Jharkhand, on Tuesday.
The 80-year-old was in Pakur to attend an event hosted by a primitive tribal group when BJP's youth and student wing members protested outside the venue. Another group of BJYM and ABVP supporters gathered outside the hotel where Agnivesh was staying and shouted slogans against him.
Sources said protesters attacked Agnivesh as soon as he came out of the hotel. He was rescued by bystanders and taken inside the hotel. He was later treated by a team of doctors from the district hospital.
"I am against any kind of violence. I am 80 years old and this happened to me for the first time. The state government must order a probe and arrest those who attacked me," Agnivesh told reporters.
As footage of the assault went viral, CM Raghubar Das directed top officials to constitute a high-level committee to probe the incident.
"There were no police and government officials present. When I called the SP and the DM, they didn't turn up. I told the agitators they can talk to me. But they attacked and hurled abuses as soon as I left the hotel," Agnivesh said, adding that he didn't know why he was attacked. Witnesses said the attackers targeted the activist for taking part in the event at the "behest of Christian missionaries to mislead tribals".
At least 20 BJYM and ABVP workers were detained.
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