AT LEAST a dozen persons including youth Congress leader Rana Rahul Singh were injured in clashes between two groups of supporters over a food grains tender contract, at Cinema Road under Kotwali police station, in Gorakhpur on Friday.
A heavy police contingent led by circle officer resorted to lathicharge to control the situation. Later, Singh along with his three supporters were arrested by the police.
The Regional Food Controller officer had invited for tenders to carry food grains to 19 centres in Gorakhpur and 121 centres in Maharajganj district. The tender was for Rs 1 crore. According to conditions of the contract, any contractor possessing three trucks in his name and having power of attorney to operate five trucks was eligible to apply for the tender.
Hindu Yuva Vahini state president and right handman of BJP MP Sunil Singh, zila panchayat chairman in Kushinagar and SP leader Dipu Jaiswal and BSP leader Vinod Upadhyaya along with other 35 contractors had submitted applications for the contract. Their supporters, all armed, were present at the RFC office as the bidding started. However, Jaiswal and Upadhyaya pulled out arms and started threatening each other.
What compounded the problem was police station in charge of Kotwali police station allegedly escaped from the scene for a short while and Upadhayay’s supporters along with supporters of Singh bashed up Jaiswal’s aides. The two groups chased each other brandishing their arms in the market creating panic.
{{/usCountry}}What compounded the problem was police station in charge of Kotwali police station allegedly escaped from the scene for a short while and Upadhayay’s supporters along with supporters of Singh bashed up Jaiswal’s aides. The two groups chased each other brandishing their arms in the market creating panic.
{{/usCountry}}As alarm spread, shop owners put up their shutters and the people on the streets ran helter skelter. The busy road wore a deserted look very soon.
It was at least a good 20 minutes after the incident happening, that Circle Officer Kotwali, Surjaya Bali Singh along with a heavy contingent rushed to the spot and resorted to mild lathicharge to control the situation. The police personnel bashed up Singh brutally who was supporting Sunil Singh. Rahul was admitted to the district hospital.
As news of police high handedness spread, Rahul’s supporters went on the rampage at Mohaddipur crossing. They damaged the police booth and tried to block traffic movement. Police force rushed to the spot and arrested three of Rahul supporters and registered a case against them.