Shot at by BJP MLA’s son, MP tribal says: ‘I hope police take my case seriously’
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath says there seems to be “competition among the BJP leaders of Madhya Pradesh to persecute the tribal community”.
Written by Anand Mohan J Bhopal | Updated: August 4, 2023 19:56 IST
The victim, Surya Kumar Khairwar, was headed to a local kirana store to buy groceries around 5.30 pm, when he spotted his brothers Aditya and Rahul in a heated argument, police said. (Express Photo)
A 34-year-old tribal man from Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh was shot at, allegedly by a sitting BJP MLA’s son, who is currently on the run, police said on Friday.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Singrauli) Shiv Kumar told The Indian Express that the accused has been identified as 40-year-old Vivekanand Vaishya, son of MLA Ram Lallu Vaishya.
“The accused, who is the MLA’s son, is currently on the run along with another man. We have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 each for their capture,” Kumar said.
According to police, the incident took place on Thursday. The accused was in his car when he allegedly entered into an altercation with a group of persons over passage on a narrow road.
The victim, Surya Kumar Khairwar, was headed to a local kirana store to buy groceries around 5.30 pm, when he spotted his brothers Aditya and Rahul in a heated argument, police said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Khairwar, a Coal India employee, said, “My brothers were seated in a Bolero car and Vivekananda was in a Swift Dzire. Deepak Panika, who was with Vivekananda, was arguing with my brothers over the cars not being able to pass. The fight escalated and my brothers were assaulted. I tried to intervene; then I heard a gunshot and saw that the MLA’s son, Vivekanand, was seated inside the other car, holding a gun.”
Khairwar said he felt a sharp pain in his right hand and saw blood oozing from a bullet wound. “I asked Vivekanand why he was hiding his gun. He tried to flee and, in the meantime, someone broke his car’s window. I left for the hospital. I hope the police address my case sincerely since he is a MLA’s son,” he said.
The accused was booked under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and section 25 (possessing or carrying any prohibited arms) and 27 (use of arms, ammunition) of the Arms Act.
Police have claimed he has a previous criminal record. The ASP said Vaishiya had allegedly assaulted a forest guard and opened fire to intimidate him on July 20 last year. “He remained untraced for some time and surrendered in a local court in February this year,” the ASP said.
The Congress meanwhile attacked the BJP-led state government over failing to protect tribals in the state, also referencing a recent incident when a tribal man was urinated on by a person with alleged links to the party.
