Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha and former chief minister Arjun Munda were among those beaten up by the police during a BJP protest, Ghera Dalo, Dera Dalo, in Ranchi outside the Raj Bhawan on Thursday.

Injured in his legs and shoulders, Sinha fell down and was lifted by the police. "They caned us mercilessly and indiscriminately when we were leading a peaceful demonstration," he said.

A total of 45 persons, including Sinha, Munda and MLA Sarayu Rai, were arrested on charges of rioting and disturbing the peace. They were released in the evening. The state administration had deployed three companies of the police to maintain law and order.

The agitation was called by the state unit of the BJP to protest against the decision of the UPA Government to keep the state Assembly in suspended animation while imposing the President's rule in Jharkhand on January 19. They demanded fresh Assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha elections.

"By keeping the Assembly in suspended animation, the UPA has kept the horse trading on," said BJP's state unit president Raghuwar Das.

An identical demand was raised by the opposition JD(U), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha led by Babulal Marandi and the Left -- CPI, CPI(M) and the CPI(ML).

However, JMM's spokesperson Madan Nayak said, "Since the Assembly elections were due next year, there is no need of polls now. We want the democratic government to be formed at the earliest."