Irked over a complaint sent against him to the district magistrate, BSP’s Robertsganj MP Lal Chand Kol beat up the village sarpanch who had ‘‘dared to raise his voice’’ against him.The sarpanch had stated in the complaint that the MP had not paid foodgrain worth Rs 50,000 he had promised to the labourers for having constructed a road in his constituency.After he atacked the sarpanch, villagers gheraoed the local police post and Mandihan police station demanding action against the MP. Police then booked the MP and his three sons—Prem Shanker, Uma Shanker and Rama Shanker—on charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide and threatening with life. While Prem was arrested last night in a raid at the MPs residence, the MP and the other two sons were absconding.Mirzapur SP Pramod Kumar has despatched a fax to the Lok Sabha Speaker with details of the incident, seeking permission to arrest the MP. However, speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Kol said he too had sent a fax to the Speaker, saying he had been implicated.Police said, ‘‘Around 18 months ago, some labourers built a road in Padriya village in the MP’s constituency. The MP promised them foodgrain instead of money. Incidentally, the licence of the fair price distribution shop in the village also belonged to the MP’s son Prem Shanker, who refused to deliver the ration to the labourers.’’After their requests to the MP’s son fell on deaf ears, labourers gheroed sarpanch Ram Nagina last month, demanding their dues. As Prem Shanker refused to hear their request, Nagina complained last week to the DM, Mirzapur.
