Bypoll candidate held for threatening cop

The Varanasi police arrested Ajay Rai Independent candidate contesting the Assembly by-election from Kolasla constituency and his seven supporters for threatening Phoolpur police station SO Swami Prasad on Wednesday.

The Varanasi police arrested Ajay Rai Independent candidate contesting the Assembly by-election from Kolasla constituency and his seven supporters for threatening Phoolpur police station SO Swami Prasad on Wednesday. Rai,a former BJP legislator,was later released on bail.

Varanasi ASP (Rural) Atul Saxena said Rai is a historysheeter

of Chetganj police station with over 10 criminal cases registered against him.

He is also a listed member of jailed criminal Brijesh Singhs gang. He had lost the recent Lok Sabha election from Varanasi on a Samajwadi Party ticket.

Saxena said: To ensure free and fair polling in the by-election,the district police are conducting raids to arrest hooligans and wanted criminals these days. Rai,accompanied by a mob of over 40 supporters,had blocked the Babatpur intersection protesting against such raids and accused the police of harassing his supporters.

Phoolpur SO Swami Prasad had rushed to the demonstration site and asked Rai to tell his supporters to disperse. The former MLA and his associates,however,threatened the SO and other policemen. Rai threatened me,claiming he had beaten up several SOs earlier and I would also face the music, said Prasad.

Rai and his associates were booked for rioting,disturbing peace,violating prohibitory orders,assaulting public servant on duty and criminal intimidation.

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