Gaya: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Prem Kumar and 25 others were arrested in Gaya on January 31 where heavy deployment of security forces was made following desecration of a couple of idols by unidentified miscreants, a senior official said.

Prohibitory orders were promulgated in the town as tension mounted with angry residents taking to the streets to protest against desecration of idols at Rajendra Ashram under the Civil Lines police station.

District magistrate Brajesh Mehrotra said local BJP MLA Kumar, along with 25 supporters, brought out a torchlight procession this evening in violation of the prohibitory orders to mobilise support for February 1 Gaya bandh call given by BJP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena. The bandh was called in protest against the incident.

They were taken into custody for defying the official order and are lodged in a makeshift custody here, Mehrotra said.

Mehrotra said prohibitory orders under section 144 Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) would remain in force in the town where tension eased after heavy deployment of security forces.

One company of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 200 Bihar Military Police personnel and over 500 District Armed Policemen were deployed to maintain law and order, he said.

Three persons were taken into custody in connection with desecration of the idols, he said adding close watch was being kept on mischief-makers.

PTI