Former BJP MLA Atar Singh Bhadana Killed in Bharatpur Clash Over Stone Crusher Dispute

A long-running dispute over the reopening of a stone crusher turned deadly in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, with former BJP MLA Atar Singh Bhadana dying after an alleged attack by villagers, police said on Monday. His associate, Gagan Sharma, was also seriously injured in the confrontation.

The incident took place on Sunday night in Bhonda village, where Bhadana had gone to his stone crusher site amid mounting opposition to its proposed reopening. According to Circle Officer (Bhusawar) Neeraj Bhardwaj, Bhadana and Sharma were allegedly attacked with sticks and stones during a confrontation with local residents.

Both men sustained serious injuries and were initially taken to a hospital in Weir. Bhadana was subsequently referred to SMS Hospital in Jaipur, where he died during treatment. Sharma was referred to a hospital in Bharatpur.

The dispute had been simmering for some time, with the crusher remaining closed for approximately a year. Villagers have accused Bhadana of encroaching on grazing land and engaging in illegal mining activities, allegations that form the backdrop to the escalating tensions over the site.

Residents claimed they had been staging a peaceful protest for the past 10 to 15 days against the proposed reopening. According to their account, Bhadana arrived at the site on Sunday evening with around 40 to 50 people and attempted to remove the protesters, triggering a confrontation.

However, both sides have accused each other of assault, and the circumstances leading to the fatal clash remain under investigation.

The incident has heightened tensions in the village, prompting authorities to deploy additional police personnel to maintain law and order and prevent further violence.

Bhadana’s body has been kept in the mortuary for a postmortem examination, police said. Further details about the investigation and any action against those involved were awaited.