Bharatiya Janta Party candidate from latehar Braj Mohan Ram was critically injured in a road accident while three persons accompanying him in the vehicle were killed on Friday. The former Palamu MP has been referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi for further treatment.
One of the survivors of the accident and a close aide of the BJP candidate Mahesh told The Pioneer over phone on his way to Ranchi that the accident was deliberately done with some mala fide intention.
“We were going to Balumath for an election meeting. Our vehicles were in good speed when a Hywh truck coming from opposite direction rammed into the jeep carrying the leader. It was intentional. The candidate has fractures into his hand and got several other injuries. His bodyguard Hira Mani and personal assistant Ranjan died on the spot while the driver succumbed to his injuries on way to Ranchi,” said Mahesh who was following the ill-fated vehicle as a part of the convoy on the NH-99.
latehar Superintendent of Police Michael S Raj also confirmed the incident. “We have information about the accident which reportedly took place at Makaiya Tand, about 70 km from latehar, around 3.30 pm. Two persons accompanying Brij Mohan Ram have been killed in the accident. An FIR has been filed and the police are investigating the accident,” said the SP. The vehicle has been crushed badly.
Reacting to the accident, the BJP has also smelt a rat and termed it a part of a larger sinister game being played out against the party in the constituency. The BJP had named Brij Mohan Ram as candidate at the last moment after announcing Narayan Bhokta for the seat reserved for SC. The constituency, considered heavily Naxal infested zone, is slated to undergo polls on November 25.
leader of Opposition Arjun Munda demanded a high level inquiry into the incident.
“Taking the matter seriously, Elections Commission should immediately order a high level inquiry into the accident,” said Munda. If it was an attempt to kill our candidate then it must be considered an attack on democracy and Election Commission must think in this regard seriously, he said. Though, the Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria said that the accident may not lead to any postponement.
Convicted BJP nominee from Chakradharpur withdraws
BJP’s official candidate from Chakradharpur seat Sukhram Oraon withdrew his nomination on Friday. Incidentally, Friday was the last day for filing the papers and the huffed and puffed BJP leader named his wife Navami Oraon as his replacement. When contacted, Sukhram Oraon confirmed that he had taken back his candidature. “Yes, I have withdrawn. There was some court related matters. The BJP has finalised Navami Oraon and she has filed her nominations as well,” he said.
Sukhram had been convicted after he was found guilty under Arms Act by SDJM of Chaibasa in 2005 and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jamshedpur in 2013 in two separate cases. He had been awarded two years of rigorous imprisonment in the first case while three years’ of RI and Rs 1,000 as fine in the second.
Though, appeals in both the cases have been pending before the higher courts but recent Supreme Court verdict about immediate disqualification of a legislator convicted would have gone against him. Navami Oraon is the first wife of Sukhram who is also married to Babita Oraon.