Amethi, Oct 20 (IANS): A 19-year-old youth carrying a revolver was arrested by the Special Protection Group (SPG) for attempting to get close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi shortly after he addressed a rally here Thursday afternoon.

Gandhi came to his constituency to inaugurate a Corporation Bank branch near Ramlila ground, where he addressed a well-attended public rally.

Identified as Banarsi Soni, the youth, who owns a jewellery shop in the local market here, claimed that he was only trying to hand over an appeal to the Gandhi scion for an independent investigation into the murder of his father and brother here a few months ago.

Soni told local cops that he owned a revolver for which he was granted a licence for self-protection after the murder of his father and brother. He added that even though six months had passed since the twin-murder, the police had failed to make any headway in the case.

"We have taken Soni into custody and registered a case against him for committing breach of a VVIP's security," a police officer said.