Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 7: Kalakote town of district Rajouri today witnessed strong protest after clash between the BJP and National Conference workers over the issue of creation of new wards in various Panchayats of Kalakote block, resulting into the injury and hospitalization of a BJP worker.
Police have booked 17 NC activists including Ex-MLA’s son, two brothers and two block presidents. Reports said the BJP workers after verbal and physical clash came out on the road and started protest demonstration followed by dharna for about four hours, resulting into long traffic jam. Additional SP, Nowshera Atul Sharma, ASP Rajouri and SDPO Nowshera rushed there and controlled the situation. The BJP workers were raising slogans against former NC MLA Rashpal Singh and National Conference demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack on a prominent BJP worker of the area, Mattu Khan.
Official sources said that BDO Kalakote along with his staff and some Revenue officials were sitting in Dak Bungalow Kalakote since morning and discussing issue of creation of new Panchayat wards as notified by the Government before conduct of Panchyat elections in the State. On the issue of creation of new wards and segregation of some areas, there was some verbal clash between the BJP and NC members. The BDO and other officials sitting there tried to pacify the workers from both the parties including some former Sarpanchs and Panchs whose number could be around 100.
A prominent BJP, activist Mattu Khan was allegedly attacked by some NC workers including relatives of the former local MLA. He was rescued by the other BJP members and the injured Khan was shifted to local hospital and later referred to GMC Hospital, Jammu.
After this incident, the BJP workers blocked main road in Kalakote town and started protest demonstration against the National Conference, demanding arrest of the people involved in the attack. The senior police officers arrived at the spot and pacified the workers. Later, an FIR was lodged against total 17 persons of the other party including two brothers of ex- MLA, Rashpal Singh, his son and two block presidents. Dharna was lifted by the BJP workers at around 4.40 pm after police lodged FIR.
Ex-MLA Kalakote, Th Rashpal Singh when contacted denied attack on BJP activist Mattu Khan by his brothers, son or even the party workers. He said his son Yashuvardhan Singh was with him about 40 kms away in a public meeting when the incident took place at Kalakote. Moreover, his one brother was sitting inside with the BDO and other one was not in Kalakote. He only returned to Kalakote when he came to know about the matter. He said there was no attack by NC members and he also conducted meeting with the senior police and civil officers. The BJP has tried to communalise the situation. The FIR has been lodged at the behest of the Minister A G Kohli.
Meanwhile, sitting MLA Kalakote from BJP and Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, A G Kohli alleged that NC activists supported by the son and two brothers of former MLA Rashpal Singh attacked his PRO and active party worker Mattu Khan and caused him serious injuries. Kohli said that his arm has been broken and blood was coming out from his mouth and teeth. He fell unconscious and was referred to GMC hospital, Jammu from Kalakote. He was stable in the evening. Kohli said that Police has registered an FIR against 17 persons including Ex-MLA’s son and two brothers and Block president Suri. He alleged that local NC leader of the area and his men are indulging in such acts out of frustration and want to have things the way they want. He said that law will take its own course.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said that a case has been registered and investigation launched into the case. He said no arrest has been made so far in this connection.
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