Regional party candidate, aides booked for assaulting voters

A candidate from a regional political party in Haryana, who had contested the legislative election from the Ferozepur Jhirka Assembly constituency, along with his followers, has been booked for assaulting several people and threatening to kill them if they did not vote in his favour. An FIR was lodged against the candidate and 15 others on Wednesday.

According to a complaint filed by Saleem, a resident of Aklimpur village in Nuh district, the incident took place on the night of October 4. Saleem, along with Arif, Sarfaraz, Sameer, Salim and Taslim, was on the way to Mahu-Chopda village for personal work. Around 800 m ahead on Badkali road, their vehicle was overtaken and stopped by Habib and his followers, who were in a Fortuner. Shortly afterwards, more people arrived in a Bolero and joined them.

Together, the group assaulted Saleem and his companions with sticks and damaged their vehicle. Saleem alleged that they also snatched Rs 5,550 from his pocket and threatened to kill them if they did not vote in their favour. The attackers fled the scene in their cars after the assault. All victims sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital.

Initially, the village’s prominent figures intervened, hoping to mediate a compromise, but Saleem eventually decided to file a police complaint.

Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against Habib, Salim, Abid, Niyaz Mohammad, Naseem Sarpanch, Saleem, Hakku, Irsad, Usman, alias Pilli, Tahir, Usman Khanzada, Jafru, alias Nehna, Javed Akmal, Jakaria, Rashid Besar, Javed and around 13 others under various sections of the BNS at the Ferozepur Jhirka police station on Wednesday. Inspector Aman Singh, SHO of the Ferozepur Jhirka police station, said, “As per the complaint, an FIR has been registered, and we are verifying the facts. The accused will be arrested soon.”