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MLAs arrested during Gujjar agitation released

Special Correspondent

The three MLAs freed are perceived as BJP rebels
Court seeks explanation on their confinement

JAIPUR: Seven persons, including three MLAs, arrested at the outset of the Gujjar agitation demanding Scheduled Tribe status were released from jail on Wednesday on orders of District and Sessions Judge R. K. Jain. The court sought an explanation from the Sub Divisional Officer of the area as to why they were kept in confinement.

The MLAs, Prahlad Gunjal, Atar Singh Badana and Madan Mohan Singhal, were arrested on May 23, the first day of the Gujjar agitation on which Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti (Gujjar agitation action committee) leader Kirori Singh Bainsla sat on the Delhi-Mumbai rail track at Pilupura in Bayana tehsil of Bharatpur.

The SDO Amer (Jaipur) had arrested them under Sections 151, 157 and 107 of the Indian Penal Code.

The court has asked the authorities to explain the procedure adopted for their arrest on June 27.

The three MLAs, elected on BJP ticket, are generally perceived as party rebels who are hobnobbing with the Bahujan Samaj Party leadership. The Gujjar MLAs among them -- Mr.Badana and Mr.Gunjal -- are known critics of Col. Bainsla and had announced a public function on May 29 at Patoli along National Highway-11 to mark the first anniversary of the police firing on Gujjars there.

The Gujjar leaders, released from the Central Jail, included Rajendra Bidhuri and Arjun Singh.

“We were wrongly confined and the court ordered our unconditional release,” Mr. Badana said talking to The Hindu after coming out from the jail. “We were treated like ordinary criminals in the jail. But that is not our concern now as hundreds of Gujjars are languishing in various jails after the police slapping on them any number of charges including Section 307(attempt to murder),” he said.

Now almost a week after a settlement was reached between the agitating Gujjars, the State Government is busy fulfilling its commitment on payment of an ex gratia of Rs.5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and in providing financial assistance to the injured persons.

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