1 killed in clash over WhatsApp image of Sonia

JABALPUR/BHOPAL: A fight over an objectionable caricature of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a WhatsApp group turned into a full-blown battle on the streets of

JABALPUR/BHOPAL: A fight over an objectionable caricature of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a WhatsApp group turned into a full-blown battle on the streets of Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur overnight, leaving a Congress worker dead and five others injured.

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A group led by Congress municipal councillor Jatin Raj and another by young advocate Prashant Naik clashed on the streets of Jabalpur, resulting in killing of 33-year-old Congress worker Umesh alias Guddu Verma and injuries to five others, including Prashant Naik.

Jabalpur Superintendent of Police(SP) Dr Ashish said: “While cases have been registered by both sides in the matter, we are also probing whether it was just posting of a caricature or something more than that which provoked violence. It is also being investigated as to how the violence, which happened outside Vijay Nagar police station, couldn’t be controlled promptly.”

Primary investigations revealed that a caricature of Sonia Gandhi shown washing dishes with a comment ‘Modi ne kya bana diya’ (see what PM Modi has done) was posted by one of the group members on the group. It triggered a war of words between Jatin Raj and Prashant Naik. Guddu Verma quit the group in anger.

“A case of murder has been registered against Prashant Naik’s friend Sanju Thakur and his aides, while a case of assault and rioting has been registered against Jatin Raj and his aides,” the SP said.