Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Atar Singh Bhadana died after a violent clash with villagers over a mining lease and a crusher plant in Bhonda village in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district. The incident took place late on Sunday evening, when Bhadana visited the site amid a prolonged dispute with local residents over mining operations and access to the lease.
Hundreds of villagers allegedly attacked Bhadana with sticks, with reports also indicating that stones were used during the violence. He sustained critical injuries and was taken to Weir Community Health Centre before being referred to Jaipur. Doctors at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur declared him dead around midnight. His bodyguard, Gagan Sharma, was also injured and referred to Raj Bahadur Memorial Hospital in Bharatpur, where he is undergoing treatment.
Two-year dispute over mining operations
Bhadana owned a mining lease and a crusher plant near the hills of Bhonda village. The mining lease was registered in the name of his wife, Kamlesh Bhadana.
Residents of Bhonda and neighbouring Raipur village had been opposing the mining lease and crusher plant for around two years. Their protests included sit-ins and repeated road blockades to prevent access to the mining site.
The villagers alleged that Bhadana was using the gram panchayat’s pasture land to transport vehicles to and from the mining lease. They also objected to the operation of the crusher plant, which had remained blocked by the protesters for two years.
Bhadana had been attempting to resume operations with the support of the administration. After obtaining court permission to operate the crusher plant, he restarted it on Sunday. A large number of villagers subsequently gathered at the site, and the dispute escalated into a violent confrontation.
Police launch raids to identify attackers
Weir police station in-charge Dhirendra Singh said the police reached the spot after receiving information about a clash between villagers and the crusher plant owner.
Bhadana was initially taken to Weir Community Health Centre, where doctors referred him to Jaipur because of the severity of his injuries. He was declared dead at Sawai Man Singh Hospital.
Some reports have also carried allegations from Bhadana’s wife that he was shot during the attack. The circumstances surrounding the violence are under investigation.
Police teams are conducting raids to identify and arrest those allegedly involved in the assault.
Bhadana’s political career
Originally from Haryana, Bhadana was elected as a BJP MLA from Rajasthan’s Bayana Assembly constituency in 2003. He represented the seat until 2008.
His death comes amid a long-running local dispute over the mining lease, the crusher plant and the route used by mining vehicles. The police investigation is expected to establish how the confrontation unfolded and identify those responsible for the fatal attack.