India, July 11 -- A major protest erupted in Madhya Pradesh's Datia after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra a ticket for the upcoming Assembly bypoll, triggering violent clashes between his supporters and the police.

Thousands of supporters blocked National Highway-44 for nearly 12 hours, disrupting traffic and demanding that the BJP reconsider its decision. Protesters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel, leaving the Datia Superintendent of Police and several other police personnel injured during the clashes. Police later used force to clear the highway and detained several protesters.

The unrest followed the BJP's decision to field Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the July ...