BJP MLA’s aides ‘abuse, threaten’ SDM, ‘assault’ his driver over seizure of trucks
FIR filed against 5 persons by name & unidentified individuals; SDM says incident happened in MLA's presence
3 min read
An FIR has been registered against five persons by name and several unidentified persons at the Girwan police station based on a complaint by the SDM’s driver Kamta Prasad Mishra.
Associates of BJP MLA Prakash Dwivedi allegedly abused and threatened the Naraini sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Mahuva block of Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district and assaulted his driver after a team led by the officer refused to release two impounded truckloads of sand late Sunday night, police said.
This comes days after supporters of the ruling party’s Babina legislator Rajeev Singh Parichha allegedly attacked and injured a 50-year-old man following an argument over a seat aboard the Vande Bharat Express in Jhansi.
Prakash Dwivedi is MLA from the Banda Sadar Assembly seat.
The police said the dispute began when the men allegedly attempted to pressure the officials into releasing the two vehicles which were impounded at Paigambarpur crossing for overloading.
The group, however, could not get the seized truck released.
An FIR has been registered against five persons by name and several unidentified persons at the Girwan police station based on a complaint by the SDM’s driver Kamta Prasad Mishra.
When contacted, SDM Amit Shukla claimed that during the incident, the MLA was present at the spot along with his associates who assaulted his driver.
The case was filed on charges of rioting, attempt to murder, assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, criminal intimidation.
However, no arrest has been made in the case so far, the police said.
Though MLA Prakash Dwivedi could not be reached for comments, his associate who answered his phone denied the allegations, claiming they were false.
The MLA was busy meeting the public, he said.
According to the police, the SDM’s driver said during a crackdown on illegal mining, Shukla ordered the seizure of two trucks loaded with sand and sent them to a nearby police outpost.
While the drive continued, a group of men armed with sticks, rods, and other weapons arrived in six four-wheelers at around 11:00 pm, surrounded the SDM’s vehicle and hurled abuses.
They hit the vehicle with sticks and tried to overturn it, he added. When he attempted to intervene, they grabbed him by the collar, dragged him out of the car, and threatened him, Mishra alleged in the police complaint.
The assailants demanded that he persuade the SDM to release the impounded trucks. When he refused, they again threatened and tried to assault him, he claimed.
When contacted, Banda Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shiv Raj said that an investigation into the matter is underway. The driver’s medical examination is being conducted and his statement is being recorded, he said, adding that CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed.
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