Congress MLA Madan Singh Bisht has been detained by the Uttarakhand police for allegedly causing an uproar at the residence of a local engineering college director and issuing him threats.
An FIR has been filed against him based on a complaint filed by Dr Krishan Kant Singh Mer, the director of Bipin Tripathi Kumaon Institute of Technologythe Director of Bipin Tripathi Kumaon Institute of Technology in Almora district, accusing him of verbal abuse and allegedly entering the college premises.
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Ranikhet Circle Officer (CO) Tilak Raj Verma stated, “The FIR is registered against the MLA under sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint), and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is alleged that the MLA created a ruckus at the director’s residence, was involved in a tussle, and issued threats.”
Bisht, in turn, filed a counter-complaint, alleging that the college director had violated protocol by not responding to his phone calls. However, no FIR has been registered based on the MLA’s complaint; it has been noted in the police general diary for the ongoing investigation.
MLA Bisht told The Indian Express that he had visited Mer’s residence regarding issues and demands around a pay increase after being approached by some college workers. The college is a government autonomous institute in Uttarakhand, and the workers had been demanding better pay. Bisht had initially requested the workers to cease their protest when the new director, Mer, took office a few months ago. However, when his attempts to reach Mer by phone were unsuccessful, he went to Mer’s house, where an altercation occurred.
“The college is an autonomous institute of the government of Uttarakhand, and several workers have been demanding an increase in pay. When the new director (Mer) was posted here a few months ago, I requested the workers to stop their protest and give the new director some time. On Saturday, I was returning from somewhere when some workers stopped me and requested that I talk to Mer. I called him on the phone, but the call was disconnected soon. I then called him from my number several times, but he did not take the call,” Bisht asserted.
“I then decided to go to his house, but he did not open the door. When I asked him to talk, he asked me to get lost. In such a case, anyone would get a little angry. The police soon reached the spot, and I requested them to let me talk to the director. I was there only to help my people,” he added.
Bisht explained that he was only trying to assist the workers and address their concerns. This incident comes in the context of recent concerns raised by Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri about government officials allegedly disrespecting elected representatives. Khanduri stressed the importance of upholding protocol for MLAs, and Bisht indicated that he would raise this issue in the Assembly.