cong-mla-s-son-staged-own-attack-now-absconding

Uttarakhand Congress MLA’s son, who was seriously hurt in an attack four days ago, had reportedly planned the assault himself in collusion with a friend, police said on Thursday. The case took a dramatic turn after investigators uncovered evidence pointing to a staged attack.

 

Police said the revelation came to light after four accused were apprehended in connection with the case. When they were questioned by the police, the alleged conspiracy behind the incident came to light.

 

Saurabh Raj, son of Congress MLA Tilakraj Behar and a municipal councillor, was attacked in Rudrapur’s Awas Vikas area on January 18. He was allegedly assaulted by three masked men riding a two-wheeler, who beat him with sticks and iron rods, leaving him seriously injured. He was later admitted to the ICU for several hours.

 

After learning about the developments in the probe, Raj allegedly went absconding. Police teams have been deployed to trace his whereabouts.
Raj serves as a councillor in the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation in Udham Singh Nagar district.

 

Udham Singh Nagar Senior Superintendent of Police Manikant Mishra said four accused — Vansha Kumar, Badshah, Deepak Singh and Saurabh’s friend Inder Narang — have been arrested in the case. He said Narang had allegedly helped plan the attack along with Raj.

 

The SSP said all the accused have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy. He added that police were under heavy pressure to crack the case soon after the attack.

 

Mishra said a major breakthrough came on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. During routine checking on Sidkul Road, police stopped three armed youths riding a motorcycle without a number plate.

 

Police recovered two illegal pistols, a live cartridge and a knife from the youths. During interrogation, they claimed that the attack on Raj was not due to personal rivalry but was planned by the councillor himself.

 

According to police, Raj had asked his friend Narang to arrange the attack following a dispute with his wife, allegedly to gain public sympathy. Reacting to the incident, former cabinet minister Tilakraj Behar said he was deeply shocked by his son’s actions.