Uttarakhand: Police files case against BJP Education Minister Arvind Pandey for assaulting police officer

Arvind Pandey, Primary Education and Sports Minister in the present BJP government of Uttarakhand, who is infamous for criminal cases against him is once again in news. This time Udham Singh Nagar district police have filed a case against the minister, 19 others and 120 unidentified persons for allegedly storming Kundeshwari police post in Rudrapur and assaulting the police post in charge Arjun Giri Goswami on Tuesday. The police sub-inspector, in charge of Kundeshwari police station had to lock himself in a room to escape till police reinforcements reached. Cases have been filed against the minister and others under various sections of the Indian penal Code. (IPC). Four persons allegedly involved in the incident have also been arrested according to the Udham Singh Nagar district police officials.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when hundreds of miners and transporters who were agitated by the strict action taken by the police, barged into Kundeshwari police station in Kashipur led by the minister Arvind Pandey. They alleged that the police station in charge has been harassing them and preventing them from carrying out their business and seizing their mining vehicles on one pretext or the other.

The agitated mob caught hold of the sub-inspector and after heated arguments tried to assault him in the presence of the minister. Arjun Giri Goswami, the sub-inspector locked himself in a room to escape the wrath of the mob till senior police officials reached the police station. Meanwhile, the supporters of Arvind Pandey shouted slogans and manhandled some policemen.

In response to the question about his role in assaulting a police officer and violating the model code of conduct ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Arvind Pandey said that the miners and transporters were very angry with the police and he had gone to the police station to pacify the mob which, he claimed he did.

Chanchal Sharma, SHO of Kashipur police station said that cases under section, 188,332, 353, 504 and 506 have been registered against the alleged culprits.

Raghunath Singh Negi, President of Jan Sangharsh Morcha addressing a press conference on Wednesday said that a dozen criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder and atrocities against Dalits, assault on public servants have already been registered against the minister. Raghunath Singh Negi has been criticising the ruling BJP since the appointment of Arvind Pandey as the state education minister due to his alleged criminal record. “The actions of state Education Minister has revealed the true face of BJP ,” he said.