SIX BJP LEADERS BOOKED FOR HOLDING PROCESSIONS AMID PANDEMIC

Hundreds of women, few wearing masks, took part in the yatras, which started on 3 September. BJP leaders say it will be held for two more days. Three cases have been registered against six BJP leaders for allegedly violating Covid-19 guidelines by taking out processions during ‘Narmada Kalash Yatra’ at Sanver in Indore.

Team Absolute|Indore Three cases have been registered against six BJP leaders for allegedly violating COVID- 19 guidelines by taking out processions during ‘Narmada Kalash Yatra’ at Sanver in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district, police said on Wednesday. The processions that were taken out at different places in Sanver Assembly constituency had violated preventive orders issued by the district administration in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Harinarayanachari Mishra said. Three cases were registered on Tuesday night under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against six BJP leaders, including district unit president Rajesh Sonkar, who had organised the processions, the official said. According to the police, two cases were registered at Sanver police station, while another one was registered at Chandravatiganj police station and two BJP leaders have been named in each of these cases. The BJP’s Narmada Kalash Yatra in 250 villages of Sanver started from September 4 and is scheduled to end on Thursday, party sources said. Photographs of these processions, which have gone viral on social media, show hundreds of women dancing in groups. Notably, the FIRs were lodged on instructions of Indore Collector after the video of the incident went viral. Indore Collector has asked to lodge an FIR against women participating in the rally. “I have instructed the SDM to file FIR for the violations of COID norms. All those who were involved in organising the event will also face action,” said Indore Collector Manish Singh. Incidentally, the COVID-19 safety protocol violation happened on the day Indore reported 295 fresh infections, the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases that has taken its tally to 15,165.