Digvijaya stages sit-in for action against BJP candidate in alleged murder case

Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh on Saturday staged a protest a day after a corporator of his party, Salman Khan, was allegedly killed in a clash with supporters of a BJP candidate on Friday in Chhatarpur.

Khan (34) was allegedly run over by a vehicle in the Rajnagar area during a confrontation between Congress and BJP workers ahead of the voting in Madhya Pradesh on Friday.

On Saturday evening, Singh began a sit-in along with other Congress leaders and hundreds of supporters outside Khajuraho police station and demanded action against BJP candidate Arvind Pateria and his supporters.

Singh, who drove to Khajuraho from Bhopal on Saturday evening, met Khan's family at his home and said he would ensure the family gets justice. Later, the former CM along with Congress workers and family members marched from Khan's home to Khajuraho police station and staged a sit-in.

"We are sitting outside Khajuraho police station along with the mortal remains of Congress worker Salman, the three Congress candidates of Chhatarpur and thousands of workers," Singh posted a message on his social media account along with a short clip of the protest march.

The Congress leader claimed "Khajuraho Police are not taking any action against the accused even as an FIR was lodged hours before. Police did not even record the statements of eyewitnesses of the crime".

He further said Khan's family had decided not to bury the body until an arrest is made. "I appeal to Congress workers across the state to unite against the atrocities on their workers in Khajuraho," Singh added. "Salman was brutally murdered and the entire Congress family stand with his family members."

In connection with Khan's death, Congress MLA Vikram Singh 'Natiraja' lodged an FIR against BJP candidate from Rajnagar assembly seat Arvind Pateria and 19 others at Khajuraho police station on Friday.

In his complaint, Vikram Singh said he and Khan were travelling to Akonsa village to investigate reports that liquor was being distributed in the area ahead of voting.

"While we were on the way, BJP candidate Arvind Pateria attacked us. They pointed a gun at Salman, who was trying to save me and all of a sudden, they mowed down Salman with a vehicle. He was rushed to hospital where he died," Singh said.

Chhatarpur superintendent of police Amit Sanghi on Friday said Khan died in a clash between the two sides, but preliminary investigations indicated his death was an accident.

"A clash happened between supporters of the Congress and BJP. Later, corporator Salman Khan died. The body has been sent for post-mortem. Prima facie, the reason for the death seems to be an accident," the officer said.