Bhopal:
A BJP operative from Madhya Pradesh who videotaped assaulting an elderly man has been arrested following massive public outcry. The victim, who was living with mental illness, was later found dead.
The attacker, identified as Dinesh Kushwaha, is a BJP employee and husband of a former BJP entrepreneur.
Home Secretary Narottam Mishra had said a case in the Neemuch district had been registered under homicide and negligent death sections.
Police said the elderly man, Bhanwarlal Jain, was from Sarsi in Ratlam district and went missing on May 15 after visiting a religious event in Rajasthan. Following a missing complaint, the police issued a warning with his photos. His body was found yesterday along the road in Neemuch district. It was handed over to his family and they performed the last rites.
A gruesome video showed a man asking him if his “name is Mohammed” and attacking him repeatedly as he struggled to answer. He keeps asking the older man the question and slaps him in the face. “Tell your name right, show your Aadhaar card,” he adds.
The 65-year-old seems to be struggling to understand the situation he is in.
After the horrific video surfaced, relatives of Mr Jain reached the police station and demanded Kushwaha’s immediate arrest.
KL Dangi, responsible for the police station where the FIR was filed, said the video was likely recorded on Thursday.
The opposition criticized the ruling BJP after the video surfaced. Congressional MLA Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of “lighting a furnace of hatred”.
BJP Secretary of State Rajneesh Agrawal said: “The incident is unfortunate. An accused is an accused and it has nothing to do with partisan politics. None of the people involved in such an act will be spared by the state government.”