BJP MLA assaulted during public hearing in Sriganganagar; 3 held

Jaipur: BJP MLA from Sriganganagar, Jaideep Bihani, was allegedly assaulted by three officials, including an assistant engineer, during a public hearing Thursday.The incident occurred around 11am at SD Bihani College, Sriganganagar, where an altercation broke out. The MLA alleged that he suffered injuries to his face and near his eye during the scuffle, and that his spectacles were broken.Despite repeated attempts by TOI to contact him, the MLA remained unavailable for comment.Acting on Bihani’s complaint, Sriganganagar’s Jawahar Nagar police arrested three individuals. Station house officer of the police station, Devendra Singh Rathore, said AEN Jagan Lal, project manager Sahanwaz, and planning manager Soham of a local company were arrested under BNSS Section 170, which deals with arrest to prevent commission of cognisable offences.A senior district official said the case was under investigation to determine what transpired.Bihani earlier alleged that agencies such as the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP) and Larsen & Toubro had severely affected water distribution systems, with localities including Purani Abadi and Karanpur Road in Sriganganagar allegedly not receiving water for nearly a week, worsening hardship for residents amid rising temperatures.A party worker associated with the MLA said, “A meeting was scheduled earlier in the day to address the worsening situation, and officials were summoned at 9:30am and again at 11am. However, when they failed to attend, the MLA reached the venue to assess the situation, following which the officials arrived and the confrontation occurred.”Associates of the MLA said he now intends to escalate the matter before senior authorities and seek strict action against those involved in the assault, while also raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the Rs 550 crore water supply project, indicating the possibility of a wider inquiry into its execution and oversight.Eyewitnesses said that when the MLA questioned the officials over delays and lapses affecting public welfare, the exchange turned heated. A source, who did not wish to be quoted, alleged that the MLA used abusive language and initiated the confrontation, after which the assault took place in retaliation.The incident triggered sharp political reactions from the opposition Congress. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “The assault on BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani from Sriganganagar by officials of RUIDP is a sign of the growing lawlessness in the state. If a ruling party MLA can be assaulted in this manner, what would be the condition of ordinary citizens? The govt must take such incidents seriously, as its credibility among the public is steadily declining.”Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully said, “The situation of rising disorder and ‘jungle raj’ in Rajasthan is such that even ruling BJP MLAs are not safe. If a legislator from the ruling party can be beaten in broad daylight, what hope does an ordinary citizen have? He is left only to rely on God. How long will the CM remain occupied with tours? With only two-and-a-half years left, the govt should at least ensure the safety of its own MLAs, if not of the common people.”