Lucknow: An FIR has been lodged against the Bajrang Dal activists, following a video showing them taking part in a mock drill where men wearing skull caps have been portrayed as terrorists.
Faizabad Superintend of Police Sankalp Sharma said that the FIR has been registered under section 153 A- for promoting enmity between different groups.
In the annual self-defence camp, the Bajrang Dal cadres are trained to use rifles, swords and sticks so that they can 'protect the Hindus. Similar camps would be held till June 5 in Sultanpur, Gorakhpur, Pilibhit, Noida and Fatehpur cities in the state.
The cadres can be seen killing men dressed as Muslims during the mock drill.
"We prepare them to boost their self-esteem. This training is of self-defence. They are taught to tackle different situations. This is about self-confidence. This whole annual program is about boosting the self-confidence and morale of the cadres," Manoj Verma, organizer of the mock drill said.
Bajrang Dal, which is the youth wing of Vishva Hindu Parishad, has faced allegations of rioting and violence against religious minorities in the past.
Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik downplayed the furore over the annual self-defence camp saying there was nothing wrong in conducting such camps.
"There is no harm in self-defence camps, what's important is to understand the intention behind them. All kinds of education teaching self defence is important and it should be continued at all," he told media.
