Four days after joining Congress, ex-BSP leader Devendra Chourasia murdered in Madhya Pradesh

Former BSP leader Devendra Chourasia, 54, was killed and his son injured on Friday after a group of people attacked them near Damoh in Madhya Pradesh, police said. Devendra had contested Lok Sabha poll on BSP ticket in 2014 and had lost to BJP’s Prahlad Patel. He left the BSP and joined Congress on March 12 during chief minister Kamal Nath’s visit to Damoh. Madhya Pradesh police have registered a case in this connection. Seven persons, including the husband of the sitting BSP MLA from Patharia seat in Damoh district, Ram Bai, were booked in the case, a senior police official said. “Chourasia and his son Somesh were attacked in Hata town in the district by the group whose members were armed with iron rods and wooden sticks,” he said.

Others booked in the case include Chandu Singh, Golu Singh, Lokesh Singh, Indrapal Patel and Amjad. So far, no arrest has been made as all the accused are absconding, police said. They were booked on charges like murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, among others.

The incident led to tension in Hata where shops were shut as soon as the news of his death spread, the official said.

The accused persons will be arrested soon, police said, adding heavy police force was deployed in the town to main law and order.

Chourasia and his son were injured in the attack and rushed to Jabalpur in serious condition, but the 54-year-old politician died before reaching hospital, said Damoh district Superintendent of Police Raghvendra Singh Belvanshi.

His son Somesh Chourasia was seriously injured, the SP said.