MP BJP leader found dead, police suspects he's been murdered
What's the story
A BJP leader was found dead in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh this morning, with the police suspecting that he was murdered. The death of Manoj Thakre (48) came to light three days after another BJP leader was shot dead in Mandsaur, prompting the party to claim that its leaders were being targeted. "The body had injury marks on face and around the neck," said police.
Information
Thakre had gone on morning walk when he was killed
Barwani is around 100km from the district headquarters. "Thakre had gone out for morning walk in hazy weather. We got the information around 6.40 am that a body had been spotted," cops said. Prima facie it appeared that Thakre was killed by unknown persons.
Probe
SIT formed to investigate the killing of Thakre
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an additional superintendent of police has been formed to investigate the killing. "We have picked up some people and are questioning them," SP Y D Bhutia said. Former state minister and BJP leader Antar Singh Arya's son Vikas told media that the killing was the fallout of a "political rivalry", but did not elaborate.
Previous killing
Another BJP leader Prahlad Bandhawar was shot dead Thursday
Yesterday, the BJP had submitted petitions to officials in every district seeking improvement in the law and order situation, claiming it had deteriorated under the newly-elected Congress government. Prahlad Bandhawar, chairman of Mandsaur Municipal Council, was shot dead Thursday. According to cops, one Manish Bairagi allegedly shot him over a financial dispute. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today tweeted about the recent killings.
Twitter Post
There's a deep conspiracy behind Prahlad's murder: Chouhan
भाजपा नेता प्रह्लाद बंदवार की 25 हजार रुपये के लिए हत्या का तर्क गले नहीं उतर रहा है। इसके पीछे किसी गहरे षड्यंत्र की आशंका है। इसकी सीबीआई जांच होनी चाहिए। अपराधी बेखौफ हो गये हैं, लोग सरेआम मारे जा रहे हैं। क्या कांग्रेस का नारा ‘वक्त है बदलाव का’ ऐसा ही वक्त लाने के लिए था?
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) January 20, 2019
Twitter Post
Law system in MP has been demolished, says Chouhan
अपराधियों के हौसले बुलंद है। प्रदेश में कानून व्यवस्था की स्थिति बिलकुल ध्वस्त हो गई है। यह हमारे लिए बहुत चिंता का विषय है। तत्काल अपराधी पकड़े जाने चाहिए। सरकार ने इसको गंभीरता से नहीं लिया, तो @BJP4India को सड़कों पर उतरना पड़ेगा।
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) January 20, 2019
Information
Congress making a cruel joke of the incidents: Chouhan
"Congress is taking it lightly and seeking to make a cruel joke of the incidents," Chouhan said, adding Thakre, a popular BJP mandal president, was killed in the very district to which home minister Bala Bachchan belongs. Bachchan could not be contacted for reaction.