BJP leader booked for murder attempt: Cops

JAIPUR: DEVI SINGH BHATI IS THE FATHER-IN-LAW OF POONAM KANWAR BHATI, THE PARTY’S CANDIDATE FROM KOLAYAT CONSTITUENCY

A Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader from Bikaner, Devi Singh Bhati, was booked on charges of attempt to murder, wrongful restraint and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Sunday, police said.

Two different FIRs had been lodged at Bajju police station against Bhati, who is also the father-in-law of Poonam Kanwar Bhati, the saffron party’s candidate from Kolayat constituency.

Along with Bhati, his accomplices Jalam Singh, former district (rural) president of Bikaner and one Vishwajeet Singh were also booked on charges of attempt to murder.

“We have registered FIR against Devi Singh Bhati and his colleagues,” said Dalpat Singh Bhati, circle officer, Kolayat.

On Friday, a violent tussle broke out between groups of Devi Singh and another person identified as Yaroon Khan in Jagasar village.

According to a police officer who was not willing to be named, “When Devi Singh Bhati and his about a dozen accomplices reached near Jagasar polling booth in three different cars, he was stopped by Khan, folliwng which supporters of Devi Singh started pelting stones at the vehicle of Khan and one vehicle was set ablaze by them.”

The officer added, “Further, a few metres ahead, when Jalam Singh Bhati and Vishwajeet Singh saw a car, they stopped it and started beating five persons who were sitting inside the car.”

Other than 307 (attempt to murder), Bhati, his grandson Anshuman Singh and his other accomplices Jalam Singh, Rakesh Mathur, Raju Joshi, Vishnu Modi, Udaybhan and seven others were booked under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of ~50), 435 (mischief by fire or any explosive substance) and 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly) of the IPC, police said.

Bharatpur superintendent of police (SP) Kesar Singh Shekhawat has gone on leave following arguments with Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh on Saturday night over an alleged lapse of security at a strong room where electronic voting machines (EVMs) are kept.

Following the incident, Shekhawat sought five-day leave on Sunday morning, which was sanctioned by Bharatpur range inspector general (IG) Malini Agarwal, confirmed additional director general (ADG) of police BL Soni, who was sent to Bharatpur to diffuse the situation.

“The situation is under control now. SP Shekhawat had applied for leave lest anyone should level allegations against him for influencing the counting of votes. The security arrangements will be monitored by the IG,” Soni said.

There was high drama outside the strong room at Maharani Shri Jaya College late Saturday after Vishvendra Singh alleged there was lack of security. “I sent two of my supporters to check the security arrangements at the strong room. They informed me about movement of suspicious vehicles around the campus and the general lack of security,” the Congress leader, contesting from his seat Deeg-Kumher in Bharatpur district, said.

Singh said he went to the campus around 10.30pm and raised

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