PRAYAGRAJ, September 26 (HS): At the Lalganj police station in Pratapgarh, former Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, Congress legislature party leader Aradhana Mishra, and 48 others were charged with Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 146 (rioting), and 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others). After BJP MP Sangam Lal Gupta and his followers obstructed traffic on the Prayagraj-Pratapgarh road for several hours on late Saturday night, the case was filed. Earlier on Saturday, several persons were hurt when Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers clashed at the Sangipur development block auditorium in Pratapgarh district during the Gareeb Kalyan Mela.

Sangam Lal Gupta, a BJP MP, was also allegedly beaten up and had to be rescued and transported to a safe location by police. Pramod Tiwari, a Congress leader, was also assaulted, and Aradhana Mishra's cellphone was lost in the fracas. According to sources, BJP MP Sangam Lal Gupta was invited to the Gareeb Kalyan Mela as the chief guest, where he arrived late. Meanwhile, top Congress leaders Pramod Tiwari and Aradhana Mishra 'Mona' arrived at the Mela location, followed by the BJP MP a few minutes later, causing friction among BJP and Congress workers.

Both parties attacked one other after a heated dispute. Some individuals chased his truck and damaged it, according to a video that went viral. Following the turmoil, the event was also cancelled. Heavy police force arrived on the scene and took control of the situation. Following MP Sangam Lal Gupta's complaint, a named FIR was filed under relevant sections of the IPC against 27 people, including Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, his daughter and MLA Aradhana Mishra, block pramukh of Sangipur Bablu Singh, and 50 unidentified people, for rioting with deadly weapons, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, and endangering human life or personal safety.

Further inquiry is continuing, according to Kamlesh Kumar Pal, Station House Officer (SHO) of the Lalganj police station. Pramod Tiwari, a Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member, blamed the chaos on BJP leaders and followers. He claimed that the BJP leaders were addicted to power and did not believe in democracy. Tiwari continued, "Police severely assaulted Congress workers." Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya arrived in Prayagraj on Sunday. He said that orders have been issued to take action against those responsible for the attack on BJP MP Sangam Lal Gupta. In light of the situation, additional forces have been deployed in the area.

HS/Abhishek Awasthi