Youth with pistol standing close to Rahul Gandhi arrested

In a major breach in Rahul Gandhi's security, a youth armed with a country made pistol and standing close to the Congress leader was detained at Kasna police station.

The youth, whose identity was not immediately available, was held yesterday by police who seized a pistol from his waist.

The youth, who appeared to be in his 20's, was present among a crowd of people close to Rahul Gandhi who was taken to Kasna police station after being arrested at Bhatta Parasul, the epicentre of farmers' agitation against land acquisition by Uttar Pradesh government.

Gandhi had gone to Bhatta Parasul to express solidarity with the farmers.

The youth was later handed to the Special Protection Group personnel guarding Gandhi and questioned.