The ongoing campaigning for Assembly polls turned ugly when a Congress activist was injured after he was assaulted allegedly by a BJP supporter during a Rspadyatra' programme of the Congress sitting MlA Banna Gupta at Dhatkidih in Bistupur on Monday morning.
The assault on the Congress activist, triggered a brawl between the two sides, but timely intervention by the police averted a major clash.
Peeved over the incident Gupta who is the Congress nominee from the Jamshedpur West Constituency went over to the Bistupur police station and lodged a written complaint with the police against the BJP supporter identified as Perwez Khan. The Congress activists also staged demonstration in protest against the move.
Officer-in-charge, Bistupur police station, Jitendra Kumar confirmed that a complaint of assault has been filed at the Bistupur police. " We are investigating the incident and we will do the needful in the matter," said officer-in-charge.
The incident took place at B-Block in the Muslim Dominated Dhatkidih. As the news spread people in large number gathered to get the details.
A local resident informed that the Congress nominee Banna Gupta while undertaking a Padyatra programme arrived with his supporters at Dhatkidih.
"As they were crossing a house in which a woman had died and a group of people was busy in carrying out the last rituals before the burial. The supporters did not slow the volume of the mike and continued to continued to spread speeches, leading Pervez to slap in his cheek in front of the Congress nominee. Gupta confirmed that one of his supporters was slapped repeatedly by a BJP supporter.
"The incident is uncalled for. Even if the BJP supporter had any objection to the Padyatra in view of the death of the elderly woman, then he could have contacted the police and lodged a complaint against us. But assaulting innocent party activists is condemnable," quipped the Congress legislator.
"We want action against the BJP supporter. I have lodged the written complaint as slapping repeatedly to my supporter during a padyatra. I want the police to ensure safety of our workers," said Gupta.
Gupta, when asked, said that he would file nomination with the sub-divisional officer, Dhalbhum, Prem Ranjan on November 14, but before filing the nomination he has launch an intensive door to door campaigning visit across his constituency.