Police framing BJP workers: Noida MLA

NOIDA: A day after police booked nearly 300 BJP workers for staging a massive protest on the DND Flyway and forcibly opening the boom barriers at the toll plaza, Noida MLA Vimla Batham on Thursday alleged the cops were trying to frame them in the case.
She also raised questions over the imposition of serious sections, including rioting, in the FIR that was lodged by the Noida police on Wednesday, following a complaint by Flyway toll operator Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL).
Batham, her son Nitin Narayan and BJP city president Vijender Nagar were among 300 booked by the police under various sections of the IPC, including Section 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace).
But refuting the allegations, the Noida MLA said the claim that the toll gates were forcibly opened by the BJP workers, allowing passage of vehicles without paying toll tax for sometime, could actually be the handiwork of "outsiders" who sneaked into the protest.
"Apart from party workers, other organizations and residents had also participated. We suspect some persons were hired to create the scene and frame us," she told TOI.
Slamming the Noida police for coming under the influence of the ruling Samajwadi Party, Batham said, "There were a large number of media persons present at the site and CCTVs are also installed at the toll plaza. Before the protest, we had informed the district police and administration."
She added, "We did not create a riot-like situation, but the police booked us under rioting as well."
Commenting on the issue, an official of the DND Flyway operator said "The company had lodged a complaint that the protestors misbehaved and threatened the company staff."
When contacted, DSP Vijay Dhull said, "We will scan the CCTV footages. If the charges are found to be false during course of the investigation, then the relevant sections will be removed," he added.