Karni Sena Clashes With Harda Police Over weekend, Lathi-Charged 

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Beginning Saturday evening, Karni Sena members clashed multiple times with the Harda police over the weekend, prompting the latter to resort to a lathi-charge.

According to the police, a Karni Sena member, Ashish Rajput, had allegedly purchased a diamond for Rs 18 lakh from Vikas Lodhi, Mohit Verma, and Umesh Tapiniya. After authentication, Rajput allegedly learnt that the diamond was fake. The police registered the case and on Saturday, presented the accused in court.

Karni Sena members then demanded that the accused be handed over to them, holding a protest there. The police then lathi-charged them, arresting four of their officials, including district president Sunil Rajput, Ashish, and Shubhman. 

Following police action, a large number of Karni Sena members staged a roadblock on Sunday morning, demanding the release of their officials and action against the police personnel who had opened a lathi-charge earlier. 

The national president of the organisation, Jeevan Singh Sherpur, also reached the spot and joined the agitation. The police then arrested Sherpur as well. 

The police again lathi-charged the protesters, who then gathered at a hostel and were reportedly holding a meeting there. The police followed them there and allegedly beat them up. 

Congress state president Jitu Patwari attacked the state government for suppressing the voice of democracy. He said the agitation had senior citizens and women as well, but the police indiscriminately lathi-charged them and also used a water cannon on them.

Demanding peace and harmony in society, he also sought action against the officials. 

‘Demands unconstitutional’

SP Abhinav Chokse in his video message claimed that the police used  mild force on the agitators because their demand to hand over the accused to them was unconstitutional.  On the complaint of a Karni Sena member, the police had registered a case in 2024 and on Saturday the police team with the accused was heading to court to file the charge sheet when the Karni Sena members stopped them (police) and misbehaved with the cops, said the SP.