5 U'khand Cong zila panchayat men 'abducted', HC seeks report

NAINITAL/DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand HC sought a detailed report from Nainital district magistrate and SSP after five Congress zila panchayat members allegedly went missing during polling for chairperson election Friday in Nainital. High court listed the matter for hearing Monday and said it was "shocking" that armed police were seen turning away while one member was being dragged away.

Congress zila panchayat president candidate Pushpa Negi reached HC with 10 other members and party functionaries, alleging five members were stopped from reaching the booth. Their counsel played a video in court, showing one member being dragged away by unidentified men. SSP PN Meena and DM Vandana Singh told HC they had not yet seen the video.

SP Jagdish Chandra said a case was registered against unknown persons under sections BNS sections 140(3) (wrongful restraint with common intention), 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant), 221 (intentional omission to apprehend by a public servant bound to apprehend), and 223 (escape from lawful custody). He said police were actively searching for the five members.