ALWAR: Former BJP MLA from Bayana, Attar Singh Bhadana (68), died late Sunday night at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital after being injured in an alleged attack with sticks and stones by villagers following a dispute over a mining lease in Bhaonda village of Bharatpur district.Police said the attack around 7pm Sunday left the former MLA with injuries to the head and other parts. He was initially rushed to the govt hospital in Weir in critical condition and later referred to SMS Hospital, where he was declared dead around 11:45pm Sunday.Bhadana’s security guard and aide Gagan Sharma was also seriously injured in the attack and is undergoing treatment at a Bharatpur hospital. Police said 4 to 5 villagers have been detained in connection with the attack and are being questioned.Bharatpur SP Rajesh Meena said a case has been registered against 35 to 40 people based on a complaint filed by Bhadana’s family members.Separate police teams have been formed to conduct raids and nab those involved in the attack, Bharatpur SP Rajesh Meena added.According to the complaint, Bhadana reached the mining lease in Bhaonda around 6.30pm Sunday. His security guard Gagan said staff at the mining lease were cooking food in the mess when the lights went out and a mob attacked him and others present at the scene. Police said the former MLA was engaged in a running dispute with villagers over the silica stone mining lease where Sunday’s attack took place. Reacting to news of Bhadana’s killing in CM’s home district of Bharatpur, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the BJP govt had failed to maintain law and order in the state. “When 70-80 people surround and kill a former MLA in broad daylight, then the common man can only hope for divine protection under this government,” Gehlot said in a post on X. PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also criticised the BJP govt, calling the incident a serious breach of law and order.Bhadana’s last rites were conducted at Pali village in Haryana’s Faridabad district Monday.
