Chhattisgarh: SP, Collector of Kabirdham transferred following mob violence, custodial death
Raipur (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government has shunted out Kabirdham Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) after incidents of mob violence and custodial death in the district triggered a row, an official said.
The Congress has given a call for a state-wide bandh on Saturday to protest against the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state.
Gopal Verma will replace Janmejay Mahobe as the collector of Kabirdham, while Rajesh Agrawal will be the SP in place of Abhishek Pallava, the public relations department official said on Friday.
Mahobe has been appointed as the Managing Director of the state's Civil Supply Corporation, while Pallava has been made the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the police headquarters in Nava Raipur, the official added.
Besides, 23 personnel attached to Rengakhar police station have been removed for thrashing residents of Loharidih village after the incident of mob violence, he said.
A probe in connection with the setting ablaze of a deputy sarpanch's house following the death of a man on September 15 headed by Additional District Magistrate Nirbhay Kumar Sahu has been ordered, he said.
On September 15, at least 69 persons were nabbed for allegedly setting on fire the house of Loharidih village deputy sarpanch Raghunath Sahu in Rengakhar police station limits, leading to the latter's death.
Police said a preliminary investigation suggested the attack on Raghunath Sahu was triggered following suspicion that he had killed a villager identified as Kachru Sahu, who was found hanging from a tree the same day in nearby Bijatola village in Balaghat district of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
Police rescued three members of Raghunath's family, including his wife, in injured condition and they were hospitalised.
Some police personnel, including Kabirdham Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava, were also injured when stones were hurled at them when cops were engaged in rescuing Raghunath's family.
Among the 69 who were arrested on Sunday for the arson, Prashant Sahu died in judicial custody on September 18.
His death triggered an uproar with the opposition Congress claiming that he was brutally beaten by the police, leading to his death.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma admitted that Prashant Sahu was thrashed by the police, and suspended Kabirdham Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar in this connection.
A judicial inquiry has also been ordered to probe the custodial death, the police said.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, along with party leaders, visited Loharidih on September 19 and Congress shared pictures of the body of Prashant bearing major injury marks on it.
The opposition party has demanded deputy CM Sharma's resignation over these incidents. Sharma represents Kawardha constituency which covers Rengakhar area.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
