Bhopal: Independent candidate Kishore Samrite in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat Lok Sabha seat has alleged that his vehicle was set on fire Monday by Naxals, officials said. A case has been registered by police in this connection and the state election office is also probing the incident, they said.
Samrite while talking to reporters claimed that the incident took place when he stopped his jeep at Posra village in Lanjhi area of the district in the wee hours of Monday to offer prayers at a temple.
While he was at the temple, around 20 to 25 ‘armed Naxals’ ransacked his four-wheeler before setting it ablaze, alleged Samrite .
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VL Kantha Rao said, “We have already provided security to Samrite. We are verifying the incident and probing it.”
Asked about Samrite’s claim that the attackers were Naxals, the CEO said they were trying to verify it.
A case has been registered by police against unidentified persons under relevant provisions, Lanjhi’s sub-divisional officer of police Nitesh Bhargava said.