Chhattisgarh: A dispute over the sand mining business turned fatal on Tuesday night in Navgai, near Katgodi village in the Sonhat tehsil of Chhattisgarh's Koriya district. A mob of around 30 people targeted a Fortuner carrying Bharat Singh Gaharwar, alias Lalla Singh, a BJP leader and former vice president of the Sonhat district.
The attackers repeatedly rammed the SUV with a tipper truck, jamming the doors, and then set it on fire using petrol. Gaharwar was trapped inside the vehicle and died on the spot. His body was completely charred.
Four of his supporters managed to break the windows to escape, but they were assaulted by the group. The injured, who sustained 40 to 60 per cent burns, were initially rushed to the Baikunthpur District Hospital. However, due to their critical condition, they were transferred to Ambikapur and then to Raipur for advanced medical treatment. Later, two more people identified as Virendra Singh and Nagendra Singh succumbed to their injuries.
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What Led To The Incident?
Lalla Singh also has a home in Mahalpara, Baikunthpur, and Navgai. According to a report by Jagran.com, citing sources, there had been a long-standing dispute between the two parties over the sand mining business.
Tensions escalated significantly on Tuesday afternoon when a member of Singh's family allegedly assaulted a young man from the other side, identified as the nephew of the accused.
Later that night, Singh and his supporters arrived at the other party's house in three vehicles. Tensions escalated rapidly, and the other side began hitting the Fortuner with a tipper truck. While one vehicle managed to escape the scene, the two were surrounded by the crowd. The attackers surrounded the Fortuner and set it on fire.
Given the seriousness of the incident, the Inspector General (IG) of the Surguja Range arrived at the scene in Navgai late Tuesday night and inspected the area along with local police officers.
A case has been registered at the Sonhat police station under charges of murder, arson, and other sections against nine named accused and other unidentified individuals. Four individuals have been arrested, and a hunt is on for the other accused. A team of police and forensic experts are currently investigating the exact cause of the incident.
Who Was Bharat Singh Gaharwar?
The deceased, Bharat Singh Gaharwar, alias Lalla Singh, was a prominent and influential figure in the Baikunthpur-Sonhat region. He was the former vice-president of Sonhat District Panchayat. Singh was previously close to former minister Ramchandra Singhdeo and was currently associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Additionally, Singh was a major contractor and operated a stone crusher business.
(With Inputs From PTI And Jagran.com)