Altogether 21 persons, including seven women, were arrested under preventive measures after the attack. Most of the detainees are believed to be members of the youth and women’s wings of the main Opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party. All 21 were presented before the SDM and released on bail in the evening.

A separate complaint was registered against Sanjeev Rana, Satinder and other unidentified accused in a case of rioting and causing hurt, under sections 323/147/149 of the penal code, and section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. A case was registered against them at the Sector 36 police station.

The police said they will identify and arrest the remaining rioters from the video footage of the event. Sanjeev and Satinder were medically examined at the Sector 16 hospital.

Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh said, “We would examine the video footage and then see who are the people involved in creating a ruckus at Kisan Bhawan. Thereafter, action would be initiated.”

The scuffle and protest happened while the seminar Jammu and Kashmir problem, especially in reference to Indo-Pak relations organised by Internationalist Democratic Party (IDP) was on. Farooq, who was accompanied by Hurriyat leader Bilal Lone, was addressing the gathering in a packed hall when one person got up and objected to his terming Jammu and Kashmir as separate from India. As the listeners asked the interrupter to sit down, another person identified as Sanjeev Rana sneaked up to the conference table, climbed it and manhandled Farooq.

Rana is reportedly an activist of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as well as a member of BJYM.

Farooq was promptly surrounded by a large number of IDP members as well as his supporters. Rana was beaten up and pushed out of the conference hall. In the meantime, a number of activists of BJYM, along with some Kashmiri Pandits, sprung into action from different parts of the hall. This led to commotion with the gathering beating up the activists and sending them out of the hall.

Panic set in inside the hall where people from different walks of life and all age groups were present. As the only exit was blocked, the police formed a protective huddle around Farooq.

Outside, the mob broke flowerpots and hurled shards at the hall. The glass windows were shattered and stones and bricks flew inside. The gathering collected in the middle of the room to protect themselves.

It took the small police team some time to round up the attackers and end the commotion. However, some members of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha stood up and argued with those present. They shouted slogans and were then escorted out of the hall. The Kashmiri Pandits present among the gathering also had heated arguments.

Later, BJP workers and leaders reached the Sector 36 police station where their activists had been rounded up. The BJP leaders including Harmohan Dhawan, Sanjay Tandon and Satya Pal Jain along with BJP workers and councillors held a dharna at the police station. The leaders stated that those making anti-India speeches should have been rounded up and not their (BJP) activists. They demanded that the workers be released.

As the workers started moving towards the entrance of the police station, they were caned by the police personnel. Thereafter the Additional Deputy Commissioner, SDM, SSP and other officials reached the spot. A meeting was held with the BJP leaders.