Rajasthan: Ex-BJP MLA, kin booked for assaulting officials

KOTA: Ex-BJP MLA Phralad Gunjal, his family members and 40-50 others, were booked under various sections of IPC for assaulting officials and obstructing government work during an anti-encroachment drive carried out by UIT, Kota. The drive was carried out on Wednesday, while the police case was lodged on Thursday evening. During the drive, over 1,000-bigha land meant for Devnarayan Pashupalan Yojana in Dharmpura area of the city was removed from illegal possession.
Ex-MLA Phralad Gunjal, his brother Srilal, Ganeshlal, Satyanarayan, Shravan, Kalyan, Dayal and nearly 40-50 others were on Thursday booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty) of IPC and further investigation into the matter is underway, said circle in-charge (CI), Anantpura police station Devesh Bhardwaj.
On the report by deputy secretary, UIT, SHO UIT police station and other officials, the case was lodged on Thursday evening.
A UIT Kota squad comprising of deputy secretary Chandan Dubey, circle in-charge, UIT police station, Aashish Bhargava and other officials of various department, carried out an anti-encroachment drive on the land meant for Devnarayan Pashupalan Yojana in Dharmpura area, where ex-MLA Phralad Gunjal and his family members had allegedly illegally occupied over 1,000 bigha of land, with an estimated worth of Rs 200 crore.
Phralad Gunjal, Srilal Gunjal, 6-7 others identified and 40-50 other family members and supporters, reached the spot where the encroachment drive was underway on Wednesday around 8.30am and started obstructing the drive by threatening officials, CI at UIT police station Aashish Bhargava said. Gunjal and his family members threatened the squad personnel and officials, saying how they dared step over the land and warned them of dire consequences, he said in the report.
The encroached land was however freed from illegal occupation on Wednesday, said circle in-charge Bhargava.