RSS warns MP govt after police beat up worker

A DAY after one of its functionaries was allegedly beaten by police in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, the RSS Tuesday issued an ultimatum to the BJP government in the state to arrest the police officials involved within 24 hours.

“They (police) arrested and subjected district pracharak Suresh Yadav to third-degree torture within an hour of receiving a complaint for an objectionable Whatsapp post. But they are not proceeding against police officials booked for attempt to murder. We will wait for 24 hours and then take to the streets,’’ Mahakaushal Prant Sanghachalak Prashant Singh told The Indian Express Tuesday.

In a bid to placate the RSS, three ministers, including Home Minister Bhupendra Singh, Tuesday visited Yadav at a private hospital in Jabalpur, where he is recuperating. Emphasising that strict action will be taken against the guilty, Singh said all police officials responsible have either been suspended or will be suspended.

IG (Balaghat range) D Sagar, who is probing the incident, said 12 police officials, including ASP Rajesh Sharma and Baihar police station in-charge Ziaul Haque, have been booked for attempt to murder and other offences. No one has yet been taken into custody or interrogated.

The police officials have been booked under IPC sections related to house trespass, robbery, rioting, criminal intimidation and using invectives against Yadav. A group of Muslims had earlier lodged a complaint against Yadav for posting objectionable comments against Islam.