8 injured in clash at Bharatpur’s Laxmi Vilas Palace

Vishvendra Singh, scion of the former Bharatpur royals, alleged on Thursday that his cousin Deep Raj had opened fire on his supporters and injured eight of them at Laxmi Vilas Palace.

In a complaint to the police, he said his supporters were holding a protest at the heritage hotel, which is also the home of his uncle Raghuraj Singh, father of Deep Raj.

The injured, two of them women, are admitted in Raj Bahadur Memorial hospital.

The police said it is not clear yet who had opened fire. "The case is being investigated," said SP Hinglaj Dan.

The nature of injuries of Vishvendra’s supporters is not clear either. The police are waiting for the medical report.

The trouble had started in the morning after an advertisement inserted by Vishvendra appeared in a local daily. He had objected to the certain portions of a book — Achhuti smritiyana, written by Raghuraj — on the royal family. The book was released in Dholpur around a year ago, but it was not available in Bharatpur so far.

Around 10 am, Vishvendra's supporters gathered at Laxmi Vilas Palace and burnt Raghuraj’s effigy. Hearing the news, Vishvendra also went to the spot.

Thereafter, Deep Raj, son of Raghuraj, opened fire on them, alleged Vishvendra, and showed some bloodstains on his clothes. If Deep Raj was not arrested by Friday morning, there would be further violence, he said. Raghuraj said the protesters vandalised the lobby of the hotel and action, if any, was taken in "self defence".