C'garh: Former Cong MLA, 4 others held for attacking BJP men

A former Congress MLA and his four supporters were arrested for allegedly thrashing BJP workers during the recently-concluded assembly polls in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, police said today.
Hridayram Rathiya, former legislator from Lailunga constituency of the district, and four others were nabbed last night in connection with the clash with BJP workers during the second phase of poll, Raigarh Superintendent of Police Rahul Bhagat said.
However, they were later released on a bail bond of Rs 5,000 each, he said.
Shyam Lal Rathiya, Parmanand Gupta, Ghasiya Ram Rathiya and Sewal Ram Rathiya were the others who were held, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab another accused -- Rupal Rathiya -- in this connection.

On the intervening night of November 18 and 19, Hridayram and his supporters obstructed a vehicle of BJP workers, including Bhaktu Ram Bhagat, in Kurra village.
After an argument over some issue, they allegedly started hitting the BJP workers claiming that the ruling party was distributing cash and liquor among voters ahead of the polls.

Driver of the vehicle, Darishwar Patel, and two other BJP workers, sustained injuries in the incident and their vehicle was damaged, he said.
Later, Bhagat lodged a complaint against them, he said.
Hridayram Rathiya lost his Lauilunga seat to BJP's Suniti Rathiya by 14,201 votes in the recently concluded election.