Patna: Jan Suraaj state president Manoj Bharti on Wednesday accused the Patna administration of intimidating the party’s workers, functionaries and traders who are supporting it ahead of the Bankipur assembly bypoll.Addressing reporters, Bharti said a seven-member Jan Suraaj delegation met the state chief electoral officer (CEO) on Wednesday and raised what he described as three major concerns regarding the conduct of the police. It was the party’s second meeting with the CEO in the past week.Bharti alleged that party workers and functionaries were being harassed not only in Patna but also in neighbouring districts without any FIR being registered. “Police are knocking on the doors of our workers’ houses and harassing them. This is intended to send a wrong message about them and violates the Model Code of Conduct,” he alleged.Citing instances, Bharti claimed that police visited the residence of one of the party’s workers under Pirbahore police station area around midnight after he had returned from a party meeting. He further alleged that Afroz Ahmad and Tausif were made to sit at the police station without being informed of the reason.In another instance, he claimed that around eight police vehicles reached the residence of Shahnawaz Alam in Siwan on the pretext of questioning him without any valid reason.Bharti said the party had urged the CEO to inquire into the allegations and issue appropriate directions to ensure a level playing field during the election campaign.
