Union minister’s convoy attacked on election day in Bihar, shots fired

Ram Kripal Yadav is the BJP candidate for Pataliputra constituency in Bihar.

Patna:

Union Minister and BJP candidate for Patliputra in Bihar, Ram Kripal Yadav, had a narrow escape last night when his convoy was attacked and fired upon. Mr Yadav was in the Masaurhi area of ​​Patliputra parliamentary constituency at the time of the incident.

Mr Yadav, once a close confidant of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, is now with the BJP and has been winning a seat in Pataliputra since 2014. This time he is contesting against Lalu Yadav’s daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti. Ms Bharti lost the last two assembly elections to Mr Yadav.

Pataliputra seat went to polls yesterday in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections. According to reports, local RJD MP Rekha Paswan visited a polling station yesterday and an altercation broke out between her staff and villagers.

When Mr Yadav came to know about it, he rushed to the polling station and spoke to the villagers. He was returning when his convoy was attacked. Mr Yadav managed to escape but some of his supporters were beaten up. The minister’s supporters later blocked the road and staged a protest. Traffic could only resume after the police assured them of prompt action and asked them to clear the road.

Massive violence was used on the scene and the police are conducting raids to arrest the accused.

“We have received information that (BJP MP and minister) Ram Kripal Yadav’s convoy was attacked on the Patna-Jehanabad road and a party worker was injured in the incident. A written complaint has been submitted and we are investigating the matter…” said Bharat Soni, superintendent of police, Patna East.