As Raj Kumar Thukral, BJP MlA from Rudrapur Assembly constituency, is on the run in connection with the October 2, 2011 incident of Rudrapur, the Udham Singh Nagar police had to resort to lathi-charge against his supporters and the BJP activists in Rudrapur on Wednesday on the charge of 'flouting' section 144 imposed in the district.
"The supporters of MlA Thukral, who is on the run in the connection with the Rudrapur incident, were trying to flout the 144 imposed in the district. That is why the police had to use slight force against them," Ridhim Aggarwal, SSP, Udham Singh Nagar, told The Pioneer. However, talking on the issue of MlA Raj kumar Thukral's case, the SSP Udham Singh Nagar maintained that warrant has already been issued against him in connection with the Rudrapur incident. So the police is trying to arrest him, she added.
It is believed that the supporters of Thukral and local BJP activists wanted to carry out an agitation rally in support of the MlA in Rudrapur on Wednesday. But in a bid to maintain law and order the Udham Singh Nagar had already imposed section 144 in the district to prevent any such kind of protest rally.
Meanwhile, some of the BJP leaders, including Balraj Passi, were also detained by the police concerned. However, the situation is reported to be normal in the district.
It may be recalled that four persons were killed and several others were injured when members of two different communities cashed in Rudrapur on October 2, 2011.
Though the local administration managed to prevent further loss of lives in the following days, curfew had to be imposed for many days to maintain law and order in trouble torn Rurdrapur city in Udham Singh Nagar district.As a result of it citizens had to experience harrowing time for many days following imposition of curfew in the city.
Finally, the situation was brought under control. But raking up the old case as the Opposition BJP alleged, political temperature is likely to go up in the coming days ahead.
Senior State BJP leaders have also voiced against raking up the old issue against the party MlA from Rudrapur, describing it as an act if political vendetta. It is to be seen how this issue is resolved in the times to come when general elections are not too far.