M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, June 2: Violence broke out in the victory procession of a Mukhiya under the Chainpur police station on Wednesday night in which a car was set afire. The brawl went on till late at night.
Officer in charge of the Chainpur police station Uday Kumar Gupta informed that a victory procession of Gunja Devi, wife of Mantu Singh, who had won the Mukhiya post of the Koosiyara panchayat for the second consecutive term, was taken out.
At around 8.45 pm, the supporters of Gunja Devi reached Bokiya village on five bikes where it is alleged they jeered at the defeated mukhiya contestant Brahmdeo Chowdhury.
After this, a scuffle broke out between the victory revellers and the supporters and family members of Brahmdeo Chowdhury.
According to sources, the brawl calmed down at first but again when the contingent of victor mukhiya’s husband Mantu Singh arrived at the scene, violence erupted in which Mantu Singh’s car was torched.
However, the situation was controlled by the police at night itself. SDPO Surjit Kumar said he and his team of police officers camped at the village till the wee hours of the morning today. Police officer Gupta said, “We will investigate the case professionally and book all those who took the law into their hands.”
Police officer Gupta said it is strange that Gunja Devi had her nearest rival in Sanju Chaurasia who stood second while Brahmdeo Chowdhury was not even in the contest as he had finished third in the mukhiya post-election for the Koosiyara panchayat.
According to police, public tranquillity has been restored and the culprits are being searched for violence and setting afire the car.
Police expect FIRs from both sides
The version of Mantu Singh’s side is that it was not a victory procession but a passage to a nearby temple to offer an oblation to God for two successive victories in the Mukhiya election.
On the other hand, the version of Brahmdeo Chowdhury’s side is that victory revellers who came on bikes deliberately jeered at them and taunted for the poll defeat. Their utterances and body language were offending and provocative.
However, a third version prevails which says the victor and the vanquished sides have a business value between them. But when Brahmdeo Chowdhury threw his hat in the poll arena, the chasm between him and Mantu Singh widened and got bitter.
Lesliganj reports post result fracas
Another post result fracas was reported in Lesliganj (now called Nilamber Pitamberpur.)
According to the officer in charge of the Lesliganj police station Gautam Roy, fracas broke out between the supporters of the defeated contestant Afsana Bibi and the victor Rekha Devi at Lesliganj on Wednesday night.
The brawl erupted over exploding of the high sounding crackers by the victory revellers which was objected to by the supporters of Afsana Bibi.
According to sources, Rekha Devi’s supporters burst crackers near the cloth shop of a supporter of Afsana Bibi which was objected to by the merchant. This led to a verbal dual and fisticuff between the two sides.
Sources said Afsana Bibi got defeated by just two votes. She has filed an appeal to the Palamu district election officer cum DC Shashi Ranjan for a recounting charging that her pleas for recounting were unheard of by the counting officials.
The DC is understood to have taken a serious note of this complaint regarding Afsana Bibi.
Another contestant in Lesliganj, Anita Devi, wife of a chowkidar, lost to the victor Rekha Devi by 4 votes while Afsana Bibi lost by 2 votes.
A similar law and order problem was revolving around the victory procession at Manatu where Yadavs and Saos are pitched against each other.
Sub divisional police officer Lesliganj Alok Kumar Tuti said the Manatu police have taken action and the law and order issue is well maintained and under control.
SDPO Tuti said everyone including the victor and the vanquished must respect the mandate and avoid any aberration out of joy or jealousy.
