Tension during bypoll campaign after Jogi's arrest

Raipur, Mar 18 (UNI) Tension cropped up during campaigning for the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha byelection following the arrest of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi following a warrant against him in connection with a complaint case relating to a state NCP leader's murder in 2003.

Police said that the leader was detained at Gandai in Rajnandgaon district on the basis of a warrant issued by a magistrate's court on a complaint pleading to array Mr Jogi as an accused in the murder of then state NCP Treasurer Ram Avtar Jaggi.

Mr Jogi's son Amit, along with other accused, is already facing trial in a local court for the murder. Mr Jaggi was gunned down by unidentified persons here on June 4, 2003, a few months before the state was scheduled to go for its maiden assembly election.

Mr Satish Jaggi, son of the slain leader, told journalists here that he had filed a petition in the court on March 3 and had already deposed before the court.

''Soon after my father's murder, I lodged a FIR naming all the possible accused,'' he said adding that the police and CBI, which later investigated the case, did not take cognisance. ''Subsequently, I had to file a plea for redressal of my grievance,'' he added.

Raipur's Senior Superintendent of Police B S Maravi and other senior officers were at Gandai, sources said adding that additional forces were being rushed there in the wake of tension following arrest of the Congress leader.

Several Congress MLAs, who were also campaigning in Rajnandgaon, have reached Gandai and are discussing the next course of action with legal experts.

More UNI