Man thrashed by BJYM leader dies in Bhopal, cops refuse to book leader

A man allegedly assaulted by an office-bearer of the BJYM — the youth wing of the ruling BJP — succumbed to his injuries, with his kin accusing police of trying to hush up the matter.

A man allegedly assaulted by an office-bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) — the youth wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — succumbed to his injuries hours later on Tuesday evening, with his kin accusing police of trying to hush up the matter.

Sanjay Jain, 36, an ice-cream parlour owner, had gone to BJYM's Ashoka Garden mandal president Deependra Shrivastava's residence on Tuesday morning to protest against the politician and his posse's earlier assault on his cousin Rahul Jain.

Shrivastava is considered close to the local BJP legislator. He could not be contacted for a reaction despite several attempts. Rahul Jain, who accompanied Sanjay Jain to Shrivastava's residence, alleged that instead of expressing regret, the youth leader and his friends assaulted them again.

The Jains then went to Ashoka Garden police station where, Rahul said, police refused to lodge a case and insisted on a medical examination first. It was here that Sanjay collapsed and had to be taken to a hospital, where he eventually passed away later in the evening.

The police, however, claimed Sanjay Jain died of cardiac arrest and have not named Shrivastava in the FIR. "We have registered a case and have started the investigation," said Purnendra Singh, a police official.