Youth with pistol held near Rahul Gandhi

KASNA: In a major breach in Rahul Gandhi's security, a youth armed with a countrymade pistol and standing close to the Congress leader was detained tonight at Kasna police station.

The youth, whose identity was not immediately available, was held by the police who seized a pistol from his waist.

The youth, who appeared to be in his twenties, was present among a crowd of people close to Rahul Gandhi who was taken to Kasna police station after being arrested at Bhatta Parasul, the epicentre of farmers' agitation against land acquisition by Uttar Pradesh government.

Gandhi had gone to Bhatta Parasul to express solidarity with the farmers.

The youth was later handed to the Special Protection Group personnel guarding Gandhi and questioned.