A group of farmers on Friday ransacked the venue of an event organised here by the BJP to markthe birth anniversary of former prime minister

Bathinda: A group of farmers on Friday ransacked the venue of an event organised here by the BJP to mark the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee, leaving at least five party workers injured, police said.

However, some farmers at the venue claimed anti-social elements and not peasants were behind the incident.

Some people were listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the event venue at Amrik Singh Road when a group of farmers reached shouting slogans and ransacked the place. They broke chairs and the LED system, the police said.

Women, children and the elderly fled to nearby shops for safety. The police rushed to the spot and resorted to mild baton charge to control the situation, they said.

Bathinda BJP chief Vinod Gupta and state BJP legal cell co-convener Ravinder Gupta, among others, sustained minor injuries.

Punjab PoliceWhile some farmers present at the venue claimed the ransacking was the handiwork of anti-social elements and not peasants, BJP leaders sought police action against them.

An investigation in the matter is underway, the police said.