Ever since the Kamal Nath government came to power in Madhya Pradesh, attacks on BJP leaders have increased significantly. Three days after a BJP leader was shot in Mandsaur, another Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was found dead in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh. On Sunday morning, the dead body of the BJP Balewadi mandal president, Manoj Thakre (48), was found on the outskirts of Balwadi town under the Warla police station area. This is the second major attack within a week.
The district Superintendent of Police YD Bhutia said, “The body had injury marks on the face and around the neck.” She further added, “He had gone out for morning walk in hazy weather. Local police got the information around 6.40 am that a body had been spotted, and within two minutes they reached the spot.” The SP claimed, “Prima facie it appeared that Thakre was killed by unknown persons.”
According to a Times of India report, Thakre’s muffler and woolen cap were found on the road, which suggests that he was dragged to the fields by the attackers and was gruesomely murdered there. Attackers mauled his body with a stone till his death. A blood stained stone was also found where Thakre was killed.
Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, questioned the state government and indicated that there seems to be a larger conspiracy behind the murder, he also demanded a CBI probe. He said, “Congress used to talk of change but what change is this? Murders have started here, there was one in Indore, then in Mandsaur where a BJP leader was killed, another BJP leader killed in Barwani. Criminals are fearless today. Law&order completely collapsed.” The former CM also said, “Govt is taking this lightly. There seems to be a larger conspiracy behind this (BJP leader killed in Mandsaur). I demand a CBI inquiry. BJP leader was killed in Barwani, I warn the govt that they stop such incidents otherwise BJP will come out on streets.”
Former MP CM SS Chouhan: Govt is taking this lightly. There seems to be a larger conspiracy behind this (BJP leader killed in Mandsaur). I demand a CBI inquiry. BJP leader was killed in Barwani, I warn the govt that they stop such incidents otherwise BJP will come out on streets. https://t.co/e7v2qS0WdV
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2019
Additionally, another BJP leader, his son and two of his relatives were attacked by goons on Monday in Barwani where another local-level BJP leader, Manoj Thakre had been found dead in what was likely another heinous murder.
According to a New Indian Express report, the police said, Jitendra Soni, a district BJP leader, his son Ravendra and two of his relatives were attacked by five to six unidentified men when they were returning from a village market in an SUV. In the incident, Jitendra Soni suffered serious injuries and was admitted to a hospital while his family members suffered considerable injuries as well.
Despite the repeated attacks which seem to be well coordinated and a sustained campaign to terrorize the opposition which consists of local level BJP leaders, the media has maintained a stoic silence and the incumbent CM Kamal Nath has not done anything substantial to punish the attackers and to ensure that no more attacks against the BJP leaders take place. Democracy is in danger in Madhya Pradesh.
