After Bajrang Dal's Self-Defence Video, Top Leader Arrested

Lucknow: Ayodhya's Bajrang Dal chief Mahesh Mishra was arrested late this evening after a video, showing  the activists of the right-wing group training with weapons, triggered a police case. The case included charges of inciting hatred between different religious groups.

The video has gone viral on social media and shows what the organization intended as training at a "self-defence camp" being conducted on May 10 at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, 135 kilometres from the state capital of Lucknow. The footage shows activists taking on and defeating volunteers in skull caps to represent terrorists who are defeated.

"Our security forces are sufficient to fight with terrorists. We have the Narendra Modi government. No one should be worried about it," said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain.

50 activists have been mentioned in the police complaint or FIR, said senior police officer Mohit Gupta.

The Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP. "We train men to protect and help women. Other communities are welcome to do this," said Ravi Anant, a VHP leader.
 Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik told The Indian Express that the training camp is a valid exercise. "Those who cannot defend themselves, cannot ultimately defend the country and there is nothing wrong if some youths are getting arms-training purely for self defence," he told the newspaper.

Brinda Karat of the Left admonished the Governor for his "shocking defence", stressing "he is bound to uphold the Constitution".