Dehradun, May 14 -- A row has erupted between the Congress and a trader over possession claims of a building located on Ranikhet Road in Ramnagar town, police officers aware of the matter said on Tuesday, adding that both the parties have submitted complaints against each other, following Nainital Police registered two first information reports (FIRs) on Monday. The building houses the Congress party office, police said. On Monday evening, the row escalated as Congress leaders and workers allegedly sat outside the property, they added. Police allegedly resorted to lathicharge to disperse the gathering, following which the Congress leaders claimed that some of their workers sustained injuries. On the complaint of the trader, Neeraj Aggarwal, police booked former MLA and Congress leader Ranjeet Singh Rawat and seven others under sections 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 191 (2) (rioting), 191 (3) (Rioting- Being armed with deadly weapon), 131 (Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 308 (4) (Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Aggarwal in his complaint stated, "On May 12, some leaders and workers from Congress carrying sharp-edged weapons came to my office, started abusing me, and demanded an extortion of Rs.2 lakh per month. They attacked us with an intention to kill....and threatened to kill me." On the complaint of former MLA Ranjeet Rawat, police booked unidentified people under sections 329 (4) (house- trespass), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of BNS. "We have registered the FIRs on complaint from both parties. The situation is under control," said senior sub inspector of Ramnagar police station Mohammad Yunus. He denied police resorting to lathicharge to remove Congress workers and leaders on Monday evening. Police said trouble started on Sunday night when Agarwal, who claims to be the building owner, allegedly locked the main gate of the office. In response, Rawat and his supporters arrived at the spot on Monday morning to protest. A heated confrontation ensued between the two parties, following which police reached the spot. As the situation worsened, scuffles broke out between the police and Congress workers, including Rawat himself. Police reportedly detained four people, leading to further protests. Senior Congress leaders, including state president Karan Mahra, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, and deputy Leader of Opposition Bhuvan Kapri, also reached the spot, and accused the government of silencing opposition voices. Rawat alleged that "goons of the building owner broke into the office at midnight" and accused police of inaction. "We are protesting peacefully. This is an attack on democracy," he said. Mahra, Arya, and other Congress leaders accused the administration of acting under political pressure, vowing to continue the protest until the office was returned to the party. Meanwhile, tehsildar Manisha Markana said that the issue is a land and tenancy dispute. "Legal proceedings will be based on complaints from both sides," she said.. BJP state spokesperson Vikas Bhagat defended Aggarwal, accusing Rawat of illegally occupying the premises since 2017. "The office was meant to be temporary for elections but was never vacated," he said, blaming the Congress for backing unlawful encroachments and political hooliganism....