Congress MP Devendra Yadav has been charged in connection with the violence that took place on June 10 during the Satnam communal riots in Chhattisgarh's Vadodara Bazar city, a police official said. Arrested.
Yadav accused the BJP government of implicating Congress workers in the arson case.
Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal said the MP was arrested from his residence in Durg district and taken to the Balodabazar-Bhatapara district headquarters Balodabazar and was arrested there on Saturday.
After news of the police action spread, several supporters of Yadav gathered outside his residence in Durg Bilai Nagar area and raised slogans.
Yadav, an influential young face of the party, is the second-term MLA from Bhilai Nagar constituency.
Agrawal said Yadav was arrested in connection with the arson incident at Baroda Bazaar registered at the Kotwali police station.
The case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (punishment for rioting), 186 (willful obstruction of public servant in discharge of duty) ), 353 (Assault or criminal force to prevent public servant from discharging his duties) and 307 (attempted murder), and the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984.
Agrawal said Yadav was brought to a local court, which remanded him in custody till August 20.
Sources revealed that the police summoned Yadav at least three times to record his statement, but he did not cooperate and was subsequently arrested.
Balodabazar police and Durg police reached Yadav's house around 7 am.
As the news spread, Yadav's supporters tried to protect the MLA and raised slogans. Police finally managed to take Yadav away with them around 5 pm, an official said.
Unidentified persons vandalized the 'jaitkham' or 'victory pillar', a sacred symbol worshiped by the Satnami community, near Amar Gufa at Giroudpuri Dham in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district on the night of May 15-16, triggering the June protests Activity.
On June 10, in a protest initiated by Satnamis, rioters set fire to a government office building and more than 150 vehicles in the city of Vadodara Bazar to protest against the alleged looting of the “Victory Pillar”. Resulting in the implementation of proceedings under Article 144 of the Criminal Code.
Congress leaders, including Yadav, were said to have attended a public meeting during Satnamis' demonstration at Duchess Maidan.
Nearly 150 people, including members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Bhim's “corps”, have been arrested in connection with the June 10 arson attack.
The influential Satnam community, founded by medieval social reformer Baba Guru Garhidas, represents the largest scheduled caste group in Chhattisgarh.
Yadav lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, saying he was not afraid of the government and would continue to fight for the people.
“The state government has been trying to implicate Congress workers in the Vadodara Bazar arson case. The government took action against me because I raised my voice for the youth and innocent people of the Satnam community. I am not afraid of the government, I will fight the legal battle,” he said in Bhilai.
Yadav claimed that he had appeared before the Vadodara Bazaar police after being summoned.
Former state chief minister Bhupesh Baghel termed Yadav's arrest a political vendetta and asked the police not to act under political pressure.
“The role of the government and police in the entire incident is questionable. Although former BJP MP Sanam Jangde allegedly played a role in the incident, no member of the BJP There was no questioning or arrest,” Baghel claimed.
Footage of the Satnam community demonstration shows that Yadav neither climbed onto the stage nor waited there for too long. He said the arrest of Devendra Yadav was purely out of political malice and “we are opposed to it”.
Baghel added: “We will take legal advice and decide our future course of action accordingly.”
Yadav has also been charged in cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offenses Wing in connection with an alleged coal tax scam uncovered during the Congress party's rule in Chhattisgarh.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
