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RJD protests "assault" on party candidate

Special Correspondent

PATNA: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday expressed surprise over the Election Commission's "silence on the brutal assault" on party MLA and candidate, Vijay Prakash, and an independent candidate, Ashok Ram, allegedly by police on Tuesday.

The Jammui Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar and other policemen had attacked Mr. Prakash after the first phase of polling ended, it was alleged.

The Commission ordered the arrest of Mr. Prakash, who was released by the officer-in-charge of Khaira police station, and ordered an enquiry into the matter. The police officer, Mukteshwar Prasad, has also been suspended and a case filed against him.

RJD spokesman Shivanand Tiwari asked Governor Buta Singh to take action against the SP and police personnel who "assaulted the two candidates without any provocation." The RJD also submitted a memorandum to the EC in this regard.

Mr. Tiwari said Mr. Prakash was returning home after polling had ended and "happened to meet" the SP on his way. The SP was infuriated by Mr. Prakash's objection to the "discrimination in the deputation of paramilitary forces." Mr. Tiwari said the RJD candidate was carrying a licensed gun because of the "failure" of the SP to provide security as directed by the EC. Mr. Prakash had not committed any offence by carrying a gun as he was not in the vicinity of any booth. Mr. Tiwari said that Mr. Prakash had also argued that carrying money was also not an offence. That should have provoked the SP to "thrash Mr. Prakash heartlessly."

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