MP: Panchayat poll candidate shoots supporter after defeat

Indore, Jan 15: A 35-year-old man, who unsuccessfully contested a recent panchayat poll in the district, shot at his supporter with a country-made pistol, injuring him seriously, police said on Thursday.

Dashrath Singh Thakur, resident of Sanver tehsil's Muradpur village, fired at Rajesh Salvi (50) in the latter's house at Pitavali village last night, Hatod police station inspector S R Ucharia said.

Salvi sustained a bullet wound in his chest and was admitted to a private hospital in Indore where his condition was stated to be serious, he said.

Thakur had recently lost the election for the post of Muradpur village sarpanch. He apparently held his supporter Salvi responsible for his defeat and was angry with him, Ucharia said.

Last night, Thakur, along with his three unidentified accomplices, went to Salvi's house and fired at him. The four men then fled from there, he said.

An offence under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC has been registered against Thakur and the three men who accompanied him, the police officer said adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab them.

PTI