Justice R. D. Khare passed the order, fixing November 20 as the next date of hearing, on the application of Rai who represents Pindra Assembly segment and is in jail since October 7 when he was arrested in connection with the violence that had rocked the ancient temple town two days earlier during which several persons including agitators and policemen were injured and over a dozen vehicles set afire.
Violence had erupted during a “Pratikar” (retaliation) rally called by supporters of one Swami Avimukteswarananda, who was lathi-charged by the police on the intervening night of September 22 and 23 during the immersion of idols of Lord Ganesha in the Ganga. Rai, who is among more than 50 persons named in FIRs lodged in connection with the violence, has been detained under stringent National Security Act (NSA). - PTI