Jan Suraaj files ECI complaint over 'illegal' detentions in Patna
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said on Sunday, August 2, that his party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Patna police, alleging the "illegal detention" of party leaders and supporters during the Bankipur assembly bypoll, purportedly at the behest of the BJP.
Kishor alleged that 54 people, including a significant number of local residents, were detained by Patna Police over the two days leading up to voting on Thursday, July 30.
"Patna SSP falsely claimed that the police detained outsiders during the 48-hour silence period ahead of the voting day to maintain law and order.
We have filed a complaint with the ECI, and presented evidence that many of the detainees were locals. They also did not violate Section 144 of CrPC (now Section 163 of the BNSS)," Kishor said at a press conference.
He was accompanied by at least three local individuals who, or whose family members, were detained by police at night from their homes; they also recounted their experiences at the press conference.
"More than 18 individuals of the 54 detained were local residents of Bankipur. They were not creating disturbance or violating Section 144. How can a person sleeping at home at night disturb law and order?" Kishor asked.
Describing Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma as "incompetent, motivated and foolish," Kishor alleged that the officer had tried to influence votes through biased conduct. "If the SSP wants to do politics, he should first resign from his post.
Everyone has the freedom to do politics in a democracy, but not while sitting on an administrative chair. The incompetent, motivated and foolish man is trying to influence politics, but we are not going to be scared of him," he said.
Kishor claimed that, on his party's request, Bihar's Director General of Police and subordinate officers had assured that "there will be no role of Patna SSP in the counting areas on Monday."
Kishor himself contested the Bankipur byelection, for which polling was held July 30; counting is scheduled for August 3. He said that while 54 of his party's members and supporters were detained, no BJP-affiliated individuals were detained.
"The fact is that BJP people were leading from the front, and whoever they pointed out to, the police were detaining them. This naked dance of police administration has shamed democracy. Never in Nitish Kumar's 20-year rule was such a situation created," he said.
Kishor added that beyond the ECI, the complaint had also been submitted to the general observer and police observer. "In the next two days, I will complain against the SSP and police in Delhi's Election Commission. If that does not work, we will go to court. But in Bihar, such a thing will not be allowed to happen," he said.
Nawal Kishor Gupta, a resident of Patna's Mandiri area, said he was picked up by a large contingent of police at 2 a.m. Thursday while sleeping with his family, without being told the reason. He alleged the detention appeared aimed at preventing him from voting, though he was eventually allowed to cast his vote at 5 p.m.
Nibha Bhushan, a Jan Suraaj supporter, said she had been helping elderly voters reach polling booths when unauthorised individuals entered her residence and threatened her. "I have been living in ward number 22 for the last 50 years.
When I returned home after taking elderly people to polling booths, I found 2-4 boys, associated with BJP, in my house. They started smiling at me. I asked an official how unauthorized people entered my house. He cautioned me to leave if I was an outsider; otherwise I would be caught," she said.
Sanjeev Kumar Chandravanshi, a resident of ward number 36 in Bankipur, said he too was detained by police for several hours before being released.
(With inputs from PTI)
