Gujjar leader Bainsla booked for murder: Minister

A senior Cabinet minister in the Vijay Raje Scindia government of Rajasthan confirmed that the police at Toda Bhim has filed a first information report against agitating Gujjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla.

"I can confirm to you that he has been booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. You can check from your own sources," the minister said.

Senior police officials of Rajasthan police refused to confirm about the registration of FIR against Bainsla and his supporters for destruction of government property under Section 307.

"I do not know whether the name of Col. Bainsla figures in it or not, but an FIR of 302 has been registered at Toda Bhim and it is being investigated by Station House Officer Dharmvir," a senior official of the state Home Minister Gulab Chand Katriya told rediff.com on Wednesday.

Attempts to get through to Col. Bainsla did not succeed as he had switched off his mobile phone. The other senior Gujjar leader Roop Singh preferred to go out of the state so that the policemen could not take any action against him.

Gujjar leaders have moved the court to seek a copy of the FIR.

A K Jain, additional director general of state police was surprised when this correspondent asked him if FIRs have been registered against the agitating Gujar leaders. "I have so such information with us. Col Bainsla is not with us," he said.

It was earlier learnt that Bainsla and four others had been booked under Section 307 of the IPC for the attempt to murder a policeman during the agitations seeking Scheduled Tribe status for the community.

Charges have also been filed under sections 147, 148, 141, 334, 353, 181, 158, and 283.

According to Gujjar leader Roop Singh, about 4,000 Gujjars who had taken part in the agitation had been arrested from areas like Kotputali, Bayana, Sawaimadhopur and Bundi.

In a telephonic conversation with rediff.com, Roop Singh alleged that the state government had unleashed a reign of terror against the Gujjars and that they were being mercilessly beaten up in market-places to teach them a lesson.

When contacted, district magistrate (Dausa) said he knew about no such police brutality.

"I have just finished checking from all the sub-divisional magistrates and no such information has come before me. I request you to please let me know in case you come across any place where such an incident has occurred. As far as I know, this is just a figment of somebody's imagination," he said.