Sarpanch arrested in Rajasthan

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, May 28

The Rajasthan Police have so far arrested six persons, including the sarpanch of Chainpura village in Ajmer district, for allegedly thrashing and assaulting four Sikh “sewadars” last month.

The Rajasthan State Commission for Minorities has summoned the victims, accused and the Ajmer SP on June 2.

On the complaint of a victim, Harpal Singh of Khairtal in Alwar district, an FIR has been lodged at Nasirabad Sadar police station against six persons, ADGP (Law and Order) N Ravindra Kumar Reddy told The Tribune today.

The accused, including sarpanch Ramdev Singh, were booked under Sections 295 A and 298 (hurting religious sentiments), 143, 341, 323, the ADGP said.

Besides the sarpanch, others who have been arrested are Shravan Singh Rawat, Raju Singh Rawat, Bhanwar Singh Rawat, Manna Singh Rawat, and Vijay Singh Rawat.

State Minorities Commission Chairman Jasbeer Singh said he had summoned all parties for personal appearance on June 2. The commission would probe the case independently and submit its report to the Centre and the Chief Minister at the earliest, Singh said.

Flaying the incident, state Congress vice-president Dr Archna Sharma alleged that the minorities were not safe in BJP-ruled states. “In the video, the police were seen standing as mute spectators when the sewadars were being beaten up by upper caste people,” she alleged. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh yesterday spoke to his Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje demanding strict action against those involved in the incident.