By Arun Pratap Singh
Roorkee, 10 Jul: Supporters of Congress and the BJP clashed with each other in Libbarheri village of Manglaur assembly constituency of Haridwar district where the polling for the byelection was underway today. During this, sticks and batons were also used fiercely against each other and as a result, several people were reported to be injured. According to the information available from various sources, there was a clash between Congress and BJP workers at booth numbers 53 and 54 in Libbarheri village. Lathis were used by both sides injuring many. Some sources also claimed that, in the clash, some BSP supporters were also involved.
In respect of the clashes, seven to eight rounds of firing were also alleged by Congress but the state administration has strongly refuted the claims. The Police and the administration reportedly reached soon after the clashes began and brought the situation under control. Following which, peaceful voting was reported at the booths concerned. As soon as the information about the clashes was received, Congress candidate and former MLA Qazi Nizamuddin also reached there and reportedly took the injured with him to the hospital.
After this incident, politics has heated up in the state. Congress leader Harish Rawat says that violence which could not even be imagined in the state has been witnessed in Manglaur by-election this time and he squarely blamed the BJP for the violence. While, in a memorandum submitted by the Congress to the Election Commission, it has alleged that seven to eight rounds of firing was done during the clashes by the supporters of the ruling party, the Administration has strongly denied any firing incident and has termed the allegation as totally baseless. On the other hand, Congress continued to allege that many villagers were injured in the firing. But the Haridwar Police and the district administration have categorically claimed that such allegations are completely baseless.
When Qazi Nizamuddin reached Libbarheri polling station, a heated argument followed between him and the BJP supporters. Both were seen arguing in front of the police and, for some time, the police remained a mute spectator. Both the parties kept accusing each other for the clashes. It may be reminded here that such clashes are extremely unusual during the elections anywhere in Uttarakhand, which has an impeccable history of peaceful elections.
As soon as the information about the violence was received, a heavy police force reached the spot and somehow calmed the matter. All the injured have been sent to Roorkee Civil Hospital for treatment. Civil Line Kotwali in-charge Inspector RK Saklani present in Libbarheri reported that there was a clash between the supporters of two parties and some people were injured too. They have been sent to the hospital for treatment and police force has been deployed on the spot.
Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, Saharanpur MP Imran Masood, State President Karan Mahra, Pritam Singh, Congress MLAs staged a dharna outside the SP Rural’s office and accused the administration of step-motherly treatment. They further alleged that people are not being allowed to vote. Rawat held the state and the police administration as well as the BJP responsible for the clashes. Rawat claimed that Congress is strong in both the constituencies and the BJP is nervous and it indulged in violence as a result.
The situation was however soon brought under control by the security forces and the voting resumed soon and it continued peacefully and unobstructed till the evening.
Later, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner under the leadership of Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Organisation Mathura Dutt Joshi regarding the alleged firing done by BJP workers during the voting in Mangalore by-election. While submitting the memorandum, Joshi claimed that the government machinery is being openly misused during voting in Manglaur Assembly constituency of Uttarakhand state. He also claimed that firing was done in the presence of the Police in Libbarheri and many were injured. He also claimed that Congress workers Shakeel, Sahbag and a person named Shaukeen were seriously injured in the firing, in which the condition of a youth named Shaukeen remains serious.
