The police arrested the president of Uttarakhand Berozgar Sangh (UBS) Bobby Panwar in Bageshwar along with 11 others on charges of the violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) and section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) ahead of the Assembly by-elections for which voting is scheduled to be held on September 5. Panwar was planning to reach the Bagnath temple with his supporters mainly to hold a press conference and meeting in the temple premises which could disturb law and order in the area, said the Bageshwar superintendent of police Akshay Konde. He said that Panwar had informed the district administration that he would be arriving in the district to interact with his youth workers. The district election officer made him aware of the implementation of MCC and section 144 in the district and said that any activity by them must be carried out only after seeking permission from the election committee or action will be taken against them as per the rules. Konde said that most of the people accompanying Panwar on Friday belonged to other districts, who reportedly had the intention to make the Bagnath temple premises an election ground to influence the by-elections as per confidential sources of police.
Panwar had the intention of disturbing the peace, law and order and was in violation of the rules as per which, the police arrested him and his accomplices, he added.
