After FIR, addl force deployed in BJP MLA’s constituency

LUCKNOW: A day after two FIRs were lodged against BJP MLA Pappu Bhartol in Bareilly, the local police, apprehending skirmishes, deployed addition force in the MLA’s constituency on Sunday.

Rajesh Mishra aka Pappu Bhartol, MLA from Bithri Chainpur area, his son and close aides were charged with rioting and inciting violence during Moharram. The FIRs were lodged at Bithri and Cantt police stations on Saturday.

“The security in some villages of Bithri was beefed up as per intelligence input to ensure law and order,” said senior superintendent of police (SSP), Bareilly Muniraj G.

The force deployment began hours after the FIR was lodged on Saturday.

According to police sources, over 100 additional personnel are deployed in the area.

Speaking about the investigation in the FIRs lodged against the MLA, the SSP said, “The investigation is being done by teams of the respective police stations. The police will take required action against the accused as per procedure.”

The SSP abstained from commenting more specifically about the MLA and his aides.

On the other hand, the MLA made no bones in criticising the police and the SSP for deploying additional force in his constituency. “The SSP must be asked for the reason for this heavy deployment. Are all the criminals of the districts in Bithri only ?” he asked. He went on to accuse the police of harassing his supporters. “The local police are harassing my supporters and other people of my constituency,” he said.

Mishra, who already has over 20 criminal cases against him, asserted that he was open to any investigation by the police in the matter. “I will cooperate with the police in the investigation. But they must not harass the people of my constituency,” he said.