Congmen walk free in riot case

Central Chronicle News
Bhilai, Oct 28: The court acquitted the Congress Party workers who were facing charges of riots, obstructing public servant from discharge of duties, criminal assault, etc. The trial continued for about eight years after which the court found them not guilty. It needs to be mentioned here that Congress party workers had staged aggressive demonstration against the BJP State Government as well as BJP leadership at Durg Municipal Corporation in the year 2013.
After staging demonstration, the party workers were conducting a meeting at Congress Bhavan in Durg when Police team reached there and arrested former YC (Lok Sabha area) President Ayyub Khan, Former YC President (Durg City) Vivek Mishra, Corporator Prakash Geete, Vijay Chandrakar, Iliyas Chauhan, Congress Minority Cell State Vice President Rajjan Akeel Khan and DCC General Secretary Rahul Sharma.
On complaint of a DMC employee, police had framed charges under section 186 (voluntarily obstructing any public servant in the discharge of his public functions); 147 (Punishment for rioting); 148, 353 (Assaulting any person being a public servant); and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees).
They had to stay in jail for about fifteen days after which they were released on bail. During this period, Congress Party workers continued their struggle including effigy burning, Durg Band, etc in favour of the arrested leaders.
At that time, present Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had also come to Durg Jail for meeting the arrested Congmen and had appreciated them for struggling for public interests. Advocate Ashok Sharma had appeared for defence. On Thursday, the court acquitted them due to lack of evidence.