The evening a 12-year-old dispute spilled blood: Behind death of Rajasthan ex-MLA Atar Singh Bhadana

On Sunday evening, a 12-year-old dispute between villagers and former BJP MLA Atar Singh Bhadana escalated into violence, resulting in his death. The clash occurred in Bhonda village, situated around 50 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Five individuals have been apprehended by the police, while others remain sought after. The women of the village claim that the incident was a response to their ongoing protest against Bhadana's stone-crusher unit and the blocking of cattle paths to grazing lands.

The dispute dates back to 2011 when Bhadana acquired a partnership in a mining unit after his MLA tenure ended in 2008.

Kamlesh Bhadana, the ex-MLA's wife, lodged an FIR alleging that her husband and his aide Gagan Sharma were attacked in a "planned" assault by a group of 70-80 men armed with sticks, axes, iron rods, and firearms. The attackers reportedly beat Bhadana severely, even after he started bleeding from his head. They allegedly set fire to a shelter accommodating employees, causing extensive damage.

The incident took place at around 6-7 PM, when the attackers arrived and captured Bhadana and his aide. The government subsequently suspended three officials from the Weir Police Station, including the SHO and an Additional SP, as they lost their way in the remote area and arrived one-and-a-half hours late.

The area has been plagued by illegal stone mining since 1997, with the High Court ordering separate grazing land for cattle and a culvert for a water stream. Despite this, protests continue to this day, with villagers suffering from silicosis and other health issues due to the mining activities. The Congress party has actively supported the Ghatari villagers in their grievances, with Bharatpur MP Sanjna Jatav holding a hunger strike against illegal mining.