UP minister Sanjay Nishad ‘assaulted’ at wedding, 4 SP workers arrested

His son Praveen Nishad, who represents the Sant Kabir Nagar Lok Sabha seat, is the BJP candidate from the constituency in the ongoing elections.

The incident occurred when a group of local residents accused the minister and his MP son of failing to complete the construction of a road in the area besides blaming them over other issues, it is learnt.

A video of the altercation has surfaced on social media.

“Those arrested are middle-aged farmers. We are conducting raids to apprehend other suspects involved in the incident,” said Sant Kabir Nagar Circle Officer Brijesh Singh.

The police complaint was filed by the minister’s personal security officer (PSO) Vinod Kumar.

Sanjay Nishad told The Indian Express, “At the wedding function, I overheard some people using abusive language against the NISHAD party and the local MP. I asked them to explain their grievances. They brought up the issue of an under-construction road and I advised them to take up the matter with the MP. But they turned aggressive and started hurling insults on me.”

“When I objected to their behavior, they physically attacked me. My associates and security guards rescued me. The assailants’ intentions were to kill someone. They are affiliated with the Samajwadi Party,” he added.

The minister was taken to the hospital for treatment.

At the hospital, NISHAD Party workers staged a protest, demanding action against the alleged attackers. The protest concluded only after the police assured them of appropriate action.

Sanjay Nishad claimed that the protest was staged since the police did not immediately detain those who attacked him. “It was withdrawn only after the police took action,” he said.

The FIR was registered against eight persons by name and other unidentified persons under Sections 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code at the Khalilabad police station.

SP’s Sant Kabir Nagar district president Abdul Kalam denied that their party workers attacked Sanjay Nishad. “Local residents were expressing their frustration against Praveen Nishad, who has been absent from the constituency for the past one year. People of the constituency are angry over lack of development work in the area.”

He, however, confirmed that those arrested are SP workers. “But they are not office-bearers of the party,” he said.

Kalam claimed that it was Sanjay Nishad’s associates who attacked their party workers at the function in a planned manner to divert attention of people during the election. “Our party workers sustained injuries in the attack. I have filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police to take action in the matter,” he said.

Sant Kabir Nagar SP Satyajeet Gupta confirmed to have received a complaint from the SP, saying they are looking into the allegations.

BJP’s district president Jagdamba Srivastava alleged that Sanjay Nishad was targeted in a premeditated manner. They are misleading by saying that there is resentment against MP Praveen Nishad.”

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Praveen Nishad secured 4,67,543 votes, defeating BSP’s Bheesham Shankar.