Despite being known as an island of peace politically, Madhya Pradesh witnessed some serious incidents of violence during the assembly polls on Friday.
In the most serious of the cases, BJP candidate from Rajnagar in Chhatarpur district, Arvind Pateriya, was booked for murder along with 19 of his associates for crushing Congress councilor Salman Khan to death during the wee hours of Friday.
Khan was driving Congress Rajnagar MLA and candidate Vikram Singh ‘Natiraja’ at the time of the incident and the MLA alleged that Pateriya and his men tried to kill him too.
Khajuraho police booked 20 persons, including the BJP candidate, on the complaint filed by Vikram Singh, sub-divisional officer of police of Khajuraho, Salil Sharma, confirmed to THE WEEK. Sharma said Khan was seriously injured in the incident and was declared brought dead at Chhatarpur district hospital.
The MLA alleged that multiple vehicles belonging to Pateriya and his associates rode over Khan after he fell down at impact of the first vehicle. Another of Singh’s supporters, Shivam Pateriya, also sustained injuries while trying to save Khan.
Arvind Pateriya, however, released a video charging the MLA of spreading lies and indulging in dirty politics. He said he was not present at the spot and Khan was killed during infighting among inebriated Congress workers. He called for a judicial probe into the incident and punishment for whoever was found guilty.
Meanwhile, instances of scuffle between BJP and Congress workers, and attacks on party workers by opponents were reported from different parts of the state. Reports of Congress supporters getting injured in an alleged incident of firing and stone pelting came in from the Dimni constituency in Morena, where Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar is the candidate. District administration and police, however, refuted that shots were fired.
In a video, Eklavya Gaud, son of Indore-4 MLA and candidate Malti Gaud, was seen indulging in violence during a scuffle between BJP and Congress workers. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the rampaging -party supporters.
In another video, BJP minister and Narela (Bhopal) candidate Vishwas Sarang was seen physically assaulting a youth during a face-off between BJP and Congress workers at Hind Convent School polling booth.
In Manhad village of Mehgaon constituency in Bhind, BJP candidate Rakesh Shukla was cornered by some people leading Shukla’s guard to open defensive fire. Shukla got injured in the stone-pelting that followed. State BJP has blamed Congress for the incident.
In Gwalior (rural), Congress candidate Saheb Singh Gurjar was booked upon a complaint by BSP district president Satish Mandelia who alleged that Gurjar threatened him. In Gwalior East, at least two persons were injured when Congress and BJP supporters got into a face-off.
In Mhow of Indore too, two persons were injured in stone-pelting in Nev Guradia village. In another incident, a BJP worker allegedly attacked Congress workers Dayaram and Tolaram in Mhow. The BJP worker Birbal has been taken into custody by police.
In Biaora of Rajgarh district, BJP district general secretary Amit Sharma was attacked by an unknown assailant. Sharma sustained injuries on his head in the attack. In Shujalpur of Shajapur district, heated arguments took place between supporters of BJP minister (and candidate) Inder Singh Parmar and Congress candidate Ramvir Singh Sikarwar. Parmar was present at the spot of the incident, sources said.
3 voters, cops die of heart attack
Meanwhile two voters – one each in Ujjain (booth number 55) and Khargone – died of heart attack while standing in the queue to cast their votes while another woman voter died after casting her vote in Susner of Agar Malwa. Similarly, there was a report of a cop dying of a heart attack while on polling duty in Silwani of Raisen. Another youth was killed after he got electrocuted during voting preparations in Dhangaon polling booth in Harda district. Three others were also injured due to electrocution.
