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26 rampaging Bajrang Dal activists released on Rs 1,000 surety

Twentysix Bajrang Dal activists, who were arrested on Friday by the Cuffe Parade police station in South Bombay for allegedly ransacking painter M F Husain's house, have been released on a surety of Rs 1,000 each.

The police has registered cases against them under Sections 143, 147, 149, 427 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Bajrang Dal activists were protesting against the artist's 20-year-old painting, Sita rescued. A controversy erupted over the painting recently after it was exhibited at a show in New Delhi, since it depicts both Sita and Hanuman in the nude.

Meanwhile, national secretary of the World Hindu Federation, Ajai Singh, has criticised Husain for his painting.

In a statement in Ahmedabad, he said earlier too, Husain had painted goddesses Saraswati and Mahadevi naked, and there had been protests.

He demanded that action be taken against him, adding that no one had the right to paint deities of any religion naked.

UNI

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