Council convenor Maulana Amir Rashadi claimed the locals attacked their buses, pelting stones without provocation and injuring two dozen of them, one critically. "We are lodging a case against the assailants," Rashadi said, alleging that BJP Lok Sabha candidate from the area, Ramakant Yadav, had probably provoked the locals during a rally at Billariyaganj day before.

Azamgarh Range IG Vijay Kumar, however, had a different version. "A group of madrasa students travelling in buses first assaulted a labourer of a brick kiln at Siyaraha village in Billariyaganj area, alleging that he was one who pelted stone on a bus. This irked the villagers and they attacked the occupants causing injuries to a few of them." He said a PAC contingent and police have been deployed in the area.