Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
A near total bandh was observed on Friday, 18 January, in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, to protest the killing of local BJP leader Prahlad Bandhawar, PTI reported.
Bandhwar, was shot dead by Manish Bairagi, who is reportedly being linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Thursday evening, 17 January in Mandsaur. Bandhwar was the president of the local municipal council.
Most of the shops, commercial establishments, schools and colleges remained shut to protest the killing of Bandhawar and the bandh was peaceful, a PTI report quoted the police as saying.
According to the report, a large number of people took part in the late BJP leader's funeral procession, which passed through the city. Reportedly, Bandhawar's last rites were conducted amid tight police security.
Efforts were on to arrest the assailant, district superintendent of police TK Vidhyarthi said.
City Superintendent of Police (CSP) RM Shukla said, Bandhwar was attacked by Bairagi when he was standing outside District Cooperative Bank, located in Nai Abadi area, around 7 pm.
According to preliminary investigation, Bairagi shot Bandhwar at point-blank. The reason according to the police was a land dispute. However, Vidhyarthi refused to say whether the murder was committed due to a property dispute as some reports had suggested.
The Minister for Home and Jail, Bala Bachchan, assured quick action and said that the culprit will be arrested within two days.
Congress Slams BJP for Politicisng the Matter
Congress Spokesperson, Narendra Saluja said that the matter is being “politicised’ and that the FIR filed by the family members name Bairagi as the culprit.
He further said that the issue was being raked up to defame the Kamal Nath government in the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kamal Nath said, there is no need for an investigation and that the matter should not be “politicised” as it is an internal matter of the party.
However, BJP leaders in Mandsaur are demanding an investigation into the matter and said that Bairagi was not a party member.
BJP Distances Itself From Bairagi
Speaking to the media, Mandsaur MLA Yashpal Singh Sisodiya said that Biaragi is not a worker of the BJP and he has never seen him in any BJP meetings.
“But even if he is a worker of the party, we demand an investigation into the matter and strict action should be taken against the culprit.”Yashpal Singh Sisodiya, BJP MLA
Even the media coordinator of BJP in Mandsaur released a press note claiming that Bairagi is not a part of the party.
What Happened on 17 January
According to the police, Bairagi met Bandhwar before he shot him dead.
Bandhwar was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the police officer reportedly said.
A large number of BJP supporters gathered outside the hospital after the incident. Shops in the area downed their shutters.
Meanwhile, former minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Chawala termed the attack as a heinous crime and said the culprit should be arrested immediately.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)