India
Former BJP MLA Atar Singh Bhadana Killed in Clash Over Mining Lease in Rajasthan
Former BJP MLA Atar Singh Bhadana was killed on Monday after a clash with villagers in Bhonda village, under Weir police station, Rajasthan. Bhadana, a Haryana native, had been elected as the BJP MLA for the Bayana assembly constituency in 2003 and served until 2008. He had a mining lease and a crusher plant near the hills of Bhonda village; the lease was registered in his wife Kamlesh Bhadana’s name. Villagers from Bhonda and Raipur have been agitating against the lease and the crusher plant for two years, staging dharnas and blocking the road to the lease site. They alleged that Bhadana was using gram panchayat pasture land for mining vehicles. After obtaining court permission to operate the crusher plant, Bhadana restarted it on Sunday. A large number of villagers arrived and allegedly attacked him with lathis. He was rushed to Weir Community Health Centre, then referred to Jaipur, where doctors declared him dead at Swai Maan Singh Hospital at midnight. His bodyguard, Gagan Sharma, was also referred to Raj Bahadur Memorial Hospital and is undergoing treatment. Police, led by Weir station in-charge Dhirendra Singh, arrived after being informed of the clash and are conducting raids to locate and arrest the attackers.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Atar Singh Bhadana?
He was a former BJP MLA for the Bayana assembly constituency from 2003 to 2008 and a Haryana native.
Why did villagers clash with Atar Singh Bhadana?
Villagers from Bhonda and Raipur were agitating against his mining lease and crusher plant, alleging misuse of gram panchayat pasture land for mining vehicles.
What happened to Atar Singh Bhadana after the clash?
He was rushed to Weir Community Health Centre, then referred to Jaipur, where doctors declared him dead at Swai Maan Singh Hospital at midnight.