VARANASI, Jan. 20 -- Members of the Pal community reached Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi on Monday to stage a protest against the alleged damage to an idol of Ahilyabai Holkar on the wall of a platform at the ghat during ongoing redevelopment work.

The police detained 18 people after a heated argument with the protesters.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Dashashwamedh, Atul Anjan Tripathi said, "When people were prevented from shouting slogans and holding a protest in a public place without permission, they became violent and misbehaved with and physically assaulted the police. Eighteen people were taken into custody in connection with this incident."

FIR was registered against them as a preventive action, he added.

Earlier, on S...