Daijiworld Media Network – Raipur
Raipur, Jun 18: A BJP leader and two of his relatives were killed in a suspected attack linked to a long-standing sand mining rivalry in Chhattisgarh’s Korea district, with police alleging that the victims were deliberately targeted and their vehicle set on fire.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in Katgodi village under Sonhat tehsil when Bharat Singh, around 60, was travelling with relatives in a car. Police said a group of suspects allegedly arrived in a light tipper truck and rammed into the vehicle.
While initial reports suggested that the car caught fire following the collision, investigators now suspect that fuel was poured on the vehicle and the occupants were intentionally set ablaze.
“Prima facie, forensic experts said the accused poured fuel to burn the victims alive, but have not yet submitted their report,” a senior police officer said.
Police said the impact of the collision caused the car doors to jam, trapping those inside. Bharat Singh died in the incident, while his brother Nagendra Singh, 53, suffered nearly 80 per cent burn injuries and later succumbed during treatment at a hospital.
Another relative travelling in the same vehicle survived and is currently undergoing treatment for injuries.
A fourth relative, identified as Virendra Pratap Singh, 32, who was travelling in a second vehicle, was allegedly assaulted by the attackers and later died from his injuries.
Police have arrested four accused belonging to the same family in connection with the case. The arrested men have been identified as Vishal, Satyakumar, Akshay and Mahendar.
Investigators suspect the attack stemmed from an old business dispute related to sand mining activities in the region. According to police, tensions between the two families had escalated following a verbal altercation a day before the incident.
On Tuesday, Bharat Singh and his associates allegedly went to meet members of the rival group after a phone conversation, following which the confrontation turned violent.
Bharat Singh is believed to have been elected to a local panchayat with BJP support in 1995. Party sources said that although he maintained links with the BJP, he had not held any official position in recent years due to health issues and business commitments.
The incident has triggered a political controversy, with the opposition Congress alleging that illegal sand mining operations are flourishing in the state under political patronage.
Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij claimed that rivalries linked to illegal mining activities were behind the killings.
“Sand mafias have been operating under government patronage in Chhattisgarh. Illegal sand mining is being carried out under the protection of BJP leaders. The deceased was a BJP leader, and those accused of the attack are also linked to the BJP,” Baij alleged.
BJP sources rejected the allegation, maintaining that the accused had no formal connection with the party and had never been given any party posts.
Reacting to the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured strict action against those responsible.
“No accused will be spared,” the Chief Minister said.
Police said the investigation is continuing and forensic reports are awaited to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the deaths.