Police file attempt to murder charges against Cong leaders over protest outside CEC’s house

Agra: Police have booked around 20 Congress workers on charges including attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt and rioting following a protest outside Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s residence in Agra, where slogans were painted on the property. Six of those named in the case have been arrested, police sources said on Wednesday.

The protest was held on Monday outside Kumar’s residence in the Vijay Nagar area. Police alleged that Congress workers painted slogans in black on the gate and a wall of the house before leaving the spot, Maktoob Media reported.

Six Congress leaders, Anil Yadav, Mukesh Dhangar, Manoj Gaur, Rajesh Kumar, Raja Gautam and Pankaj Chaudhary, were arrested and sent to jail on Tuesday, according to police.

The FIR was registered at Hariparvat police station based on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Gaurav Gupta. It named eight individuals and also referred to another 15–20 unidentified Congress workers.

Police invoked eight sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions relating to attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from performing his duties, wrongful restraint and assault or use of criminal force against a public servant.

The case also includes charges related to rioting by an unlawful assembly, house-trespass after preparation to cause hurt or assault, criminal intimidation and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace.

Congress city president Amit Singh questioned the severity of the charges, arguing that the case should have been restricted to offences related to the protest. He alleged that police had added several charges that were false.

Singh said a Congress delegation would approach the police commissioner seeking the withdrawal of what the party considers fabricated charges.

The protest outside Kumar’s residence formed part of the Congress’ statewide campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner.