| Ex-minister's bail rejected, goes underground | | | ET Report
Jammu, Dec 27: Former Minister of State (MoS) and Congress leader Manohar Lal Sharma who, along with his 12 supporters, was booked in attempt to murder case for assaulting DySP DAR, Kathua, and manhandling other police officers, went underground after the court rejected his bail plea.
A case bearing FIR No 187/14 and sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 323, 336 and 307 of RPC was registered against him at Billawar Police Station. Fearing arrest, the former minister has escaped from his residence.
As per police sources, his location was established somewhere in New Delhi. Sources said police did not secure his arrest after the incident took place keeping in view the ongoing elections and the lengthy procedure of seeking permission from the Speaker of the assembly as the accused was sitting minister at that time. A police team of Billawar police station was dispatch to his Jammu based official residence at Rehari from where he was also found absconding.
Today a battery of lawyers from Jammu appeared before the District Sessions Court, Kathua, and moved his bail application but it was rejected, clearing the way for police to secure his arrest .
Sources said Dr Sharma, who was the Congress candidate from Billawar, was the only person among all the 12 accused who had attacked the DySP. Accordingly he was booked by police on the charges of attacking a police officer on duty.
Pertinently, during the intervening night of December 19 and 20, the supporters of former Congress minister, who was seeking re-election from Billawar for the third time, had attacked vehicle of the BJP candidate Nirmal Singh. The incident took place in village Khouv.
After receiving the information of the clash between BJP and Congress workers, a police team from Billawar led by DySP DAR Kuljeet Singh and SHO, Billawar police station, Naresh Sharma rushed to the spot.
While the police were busy in pacifying the situation, Dr Manohar Lal along with his hundreds of workers appeared at the site and allegedly started accusing the SHO and the DSP. Later, the minister and 12 supporters allegedly attacked the senior officer of police.
Nirmal, after getting the information about the clash rushed to the spot and was engaged in verbal brawl with the Congress supporters.
After the incident was brought to the notice of the District Election Officer, Kathua Dr Shahid Iqbal, he had ordered to lodge FIR against the miscreants, including the ex-minister. |
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