By IANS
Bhopal : The Congress has demanded arrest of a minister’s son who had fired at a Congress leader in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh.
Congress leaders have threatened to call for a bandh (general shutdown) in the district Saturday if the police do not register a case of attempt to murder against Sandeep Patel, son of state Revenue Minister Kamal Patel.
They said Sandeep had made an abortive bid to kill Congress leader Rajendra Patel.
Hundreds of Congress activists Friday held a demonstration outside the superintendent of police office in Harda to demand a case be filed under Section 307 of the CrPC, which amounts to attempt to murder, against the minister’s son.
They also demanded immediate arrest of Sandeep Patel.
While the Congress alleged that the police were trying to protect the minister’s son, Harda Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Jha said: “It is yet to be confirmed whether Sandeep opened fire.”
Jha said on the Congress leader’s complaint a case of firing has been registered at Harda.
“Sandeep came with his friends late Wednesday night to my home and asked me to withdraw corruption charges against his father. When I refused, he fired several rounds from his pistol. Fortunately none of the bullets hit me,” said Sandeep Patel in his complaint.
“The police are trying to save the culprit under political pressure from the minister. The case should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” said state Congress spokesperson Manak Agarwal.
Congress leader Rameshwar Neekhr said, “Firing by the minister’s son at a witness also amounts to contempt of court and the police should take strict action against the guilty.”
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s state spokesperson, Uma Shankar Gupta, however, said that the police investigations into the whole matter were on and action would be taken against whosoever is found guilty.