Thaindian News

Lucknow, Sep 8 (IANS) A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-sponsored shutdown in eastern Uttar Pradesh to protest the alleged attack on the rally of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath received mixed response Monday. The administration Monday closed down schools and colleges in the eastern districts, or Poorvanchal area, for three days in view of the prevailing tension after Sunday’s attack on the BJP leader’s rally in Azamgarh district that left one killed and three injured.

Adityanath’s convoy was attacked Sunday afternoon while he was returning from an “anti-terrorism Hindu awakening rally”.

The bandh has affected business and other activities in Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Balia, Mau, Basti and Maharajganj districts of the Porvanchal region, officials said.

A large number of police, with paramilitary forces, has been deployed in the area.

“Four companies of the Provincial Armed COnstabulary have been deployed in the district,” inspector-general of police, Gorakhpur Range, Pravin Singh, told IANS by phone.

“Educational institutions in the entire region have been closed for three days to avoid any untoward incident,” Commissioner of Gorakhpur divison P.K. Mohanti told IANS.

Office bearers of the VHP reached Gorakhpur Monday and met the MP. The Hindu group has called an indefinite shutdown in the eastern districts to protest the attack.

“Our Hindu leaders are on the hit list of anti-national elements and we have called for a bandh to show them how united we are,” senior VHP official Mahavir Prasad told reporters in Gorakhpur Monday.