The former legislator died after an alleged attack by villagers amid a dispute over reopening a stone crusher in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district. His associate was also seriously injured.
Former MLA Attacked at Crusher Site
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Atar Singh Bhadana died after allegedly being attacked with sticks and stones by a group of villagers in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district on Sunday evening.
The incident took place in Bhonda village, where Bhadana had visited a stone crusher site amid an ongoing dispute with local residents.
Associate Also Seriously Injured
According to police, Bhadana and his associate, Gagan Sharma, sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. Both were taken to a hospital in Weir for initial treatment. Bhadana was later referred to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, where he died during treatment. Sharma was referred to a hospital in Bharatpur.
Dispute Over Stone Crusher and Mining
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from tensions over restarting a stone crusher that had remained closed for an extended period. Villagers had accused Bhadana of encroaching on grazing land and carrying out illegal mining activities.
Local residents claimed they had been protesting against the proposed reopening of the crusher for around 10 to 15 days. They alleged that Bhadana arrived at the site with a group of people and attempted to remove them, triggering the clash.
Police Investigating the Incident
Police said both sides have accused each other of assault. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent further tension. Bhadana’s body was kept for a post-mortem examination, and police were investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Political Background
Bhadana represented Rajasthan’s Bayana Assembly constituency as a BJP MLA from 2003 to 2008. His death has brought renewed attention to the long-running dispute between local villagers and those seeking to resume operations at the crusher site.
The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations made by both sides have not yet been conclusively established.