Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Just three days before Ujjain goes to the polls, heavy kicking and punching occurred among BJP workers in ward 20. Police have booked four persons for this.
Controversy stemmed from posting a hate message on a WhatsApp group on Sunday midnight. BJP has given ticket to party old face Prakash Sharma from this ward. Sonu Malviya from BJP was also claiming a ticket from the ward. Since Navita, wife of Vikas, and brother of Sonu Malviya, has been given ticket by the BJP from ward 50, his candidature was not considered. Sonu Malviya is very upset with this. For election management of BJP candidate Prakash Sharma, different groups have been formed on social media and on the behest of Hitesh Jain, Sonu’s brother Bunty Malviya was also added in the group. But Bunty Malviya was constantly putting hate messages in the group.
Since there is a large Muslim population in ward 20 and in such a situation, due to fear of minortiy votes slipping, the WhatsApp group admin Vishal Sharma removed Bunty Malviya and Sonu Malviya from the group. This enraged both the brothers and they threatened to kill Vishal Sharma on phone. Both said that they are going to Gonda Chowki office immediately. Vishal Sharma was at home at that time. When he reached the party office, Bunty Malviya, Sonu Malviya, Raj Malviya and Naveen Malviya had already reached there. When Vishal Sharma was not found, they reportedly started abusing and beating the workers present in the office. When Vishal Sharma arrived, the accused turned towards him and manhandled him badly. Other persons also joined and a fierce brawl started between the two groups.
Meanwhile, when police arrived, they were also allegedly caught in the scuffle. Police laid siege and caught all the four and they were taken to Kharakuan police station. Police have registered a case against Bunty Malviya, Sonu Malviya, Raj Malviya and Naveen Malviya under Section 323, 294, 506, 427-34 of the IPC.
‘BJP leaders threatening to implicate us in false cases’
In the last round of campaigning, controversies have emerged before the UMC elections. There was a fierce scuffle outside and inside the BJP office in ward 25. After the incidents, Anil Singh Bains alias Santu Thakur, son of Sitabai Bains, who is contesting as an independent from the ward, has raised fear of his kidnapping and murder. In a press conference, he named big leaders of BJP and said that they are stopping candidates like him from campaigning and pressurising to support the BJP candidate. Yogeshwari Rathore is in the fray for the third time from the BJP from ward 25. Congress’s Sonia Thakur is contesting against her.
