The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Thursday, demanded arrest of eight policemen, including suspended additional superintendent of police (ASP), charged with attempting to murder its pracharak in Balaghat district last month.
We demand the arrest of policemen responsible for brutally beating our pracharak on the intervening night of 25-26 September in Baihar area in Balaghat district.RSS Leader
Police have done gross injustice to RSS Balaghat pracharak Suresh Yadav, said Rajkumar Matale, the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh region sampark pramukh of the organisation.
‘Case Registered Against Pracharak After He Was Beaten Up’
Yadav was picked up from the RSS office at Baihar around 8 pm on 25 September and beaten up in a barbaric manner in public as if he was a history-sheeter.
RSS Madhya Bharat sah-prant sanghchalak Ashok Pandey alleged that police conspired with anti-social elements and attacked Yadav. "Shockingly, a case was registered against him at 9:35 pm," he said.
On 2 October, the state government transferred the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Balaghat range, DC Sagar, and the district Superintendent of Police (SP) Asit Yadav in connection with incident.
While Sagar was moved to the Police Headquarters in Bhopal as IGP (planning), Asit was transferred as Commandant of the 13th Battalion of Special Armed Force at Gwalior.
Police Officials Suspended
Balaghat ASP Rajesh Sharma, who has been charged with attempt to murder, was also suspended. Besides, on 26 September, two police officers from Baihar police station in Balaghat district had been suspended as well.
The tussle between police and RSS started after Suresh Yadav's arrest on 25 September for allegedly posting objectionable comments about AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on WhatsApp.
Yadav was taken to Baihar police station. He escaped and hid in the house of Swami Prasad Asati, but the police caught him and brought him back to the station and booked him under IPC section 295 (a) (outraging religious feelings).
Based on Yadav's complaint, the ASP, the Baihar police station inspector and six other policemen were booked under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder).
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