13 accused sent to jail in attack on BJP MLA Pushpa Devi’s vehicle

Medininagar: In the aftermath of the attack on the vehicle of BJP MLA Pushpa Devi from Chhatarpur in Palamu district, 13 individuals have been arrested and subsequently sent to jail. The police officer provided this information on Wednesday, revealing that an FIR had been filed against 38 named and 100-150 unknown individuals in Chhatarpur police station.

The incident unfolded when the vehicle carrying BJP MLA Pushpa Devi and her husband Manoj Kumar Bhuiyan was allegedly attacked by drivers of commercial vehicles. The drivers had staged a protest blocking a four-lane road in Udaigarh on Tuesday, expressing discontent over a new law related to hit-and-run cases. The FIR lodged by Bhuiyan stated that agitators pelted stones at their vehicle, resulting in injuries to two security personnel.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament House, an emotional MLA Pushpa Devi labeled the attack as a premeditated conspiracy. Expressing concern over the safety of elected representatives, she questioned how the general public could feel secure if MLAs themselves were not safe. Accusing the police of being under government pressure, she highlighted her previous demands for bodyguards equipped with AK-47, emphasizing that her pleas went unanswered.
Deploring the removal of soldiers from forest area pickets and their replacement with lathi-wielding forces, she argued that the attack was not a random act but a planned assault from the side. Former MP Manoj Kumar, also present at the press conference, criticized the administrative system of the Hemant government, characterizing the incident as reflective of both systemic failures and questionable intentions.
MLA Pushpa Devi concluded by asserting that the incident highlighted the failure of the police and the Hemant government. Expressing concerns about the state of security for MLAs and the general public, she called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, considering its potential angles.