Konta police chief arrested for framing journalists in ganja smuggling case; BJP accused of conspiracy

Raipur /Konta: Ajay Sonkar, in-charge of Konta police station in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, has been arrested on suspicion of implicating four journalists in a ganja smuggling case and deleting CCTV footage from a hotel.

After his arrest, Sonkar reportedly sent a message in a WhatsApp group saying “Inform Netaji” which has since gone viral on social media. The involvement of political leaders had tarnished the BJP's image, though the Sai government was quick to respond.

Vikram Mandavi, the MP from Bijapur, claimed that a BJP politician from Konta was present in the hotel on the same night when the policeman removed the CCTV camera's video recorder. Mandavi argues that this indicates a conspiracy orchestrated under the protection of the government.

Mandavi further alleged that sand smuggling was going on on a large scale in Konta, in which BJP leaders were also involved. He accused the authorities of duping journalists who tried to expose the matter and said that the presence of the BJP leader gave credence to these claims.

The MP stressed that the involvement of senior BJP politicians was evident and demanded a high-level investigation. He demanded strict action against those involved in the conspiracy and sand smuggling.

BJP district president rejected the allegations

Dharmiram Barse, BJP district president of Sukma, reacted to the allegation by saying that the Congress leaders were deliberately trying to tarnish the image of the party and its leaders. He claimed that there had been earlier attempts to frame their leaders and tarnish the party's reputation. Barse tried to defend the party's image and said Home Minister Vijay Sharma took immediate action and oversaw the dismissal and arrest of the police officer.

Barse expressed his anger over the dirty political game and demanded that all facts should come out. He also criticised the attempts to discredit the BJP. He said he had not seen the viral video yet and would comment on it only after viewing it.

Andhra Pradesh police in Chintur district have arrested Bappi Rai, president of South Journalists' Association, along with Manish Singh, Dhamendra Singh of Sukma and Shivendu alias Neeshu Tripathi of Dantewada on charges of involvement in ganja smuggling.

However, journalist associations demanded a CBI investigation in the matter. Dharmendra Mahapatra, secretary of Bastar District Journalists Association, revealed that a meeting of journalists from all seven districts of the division was held in Jagdalpur and it was decided to send a memorandum to Home Minister Vijay Sharma demanding a CBI investigation. The association demanded a thorough investigation into the case and strict action against all politicians involved.

The journalists' unions alleged that the journalists were working on an investigative story to expose illegal sand mining in Konta and some parts of Andhra Pradesh. To hamper the investigation, the journalists were implicated in a fabricated case of ganja smuggling.