BAREILLY: A spanking new road in Shahjahanpur turned into a mess when a group of miscreants, claiming to be associates of the local MLA, dug up and destroyed a 7km-patch using a JCB, assaulted workers and set machines ablaze after the contractor refused to pay “goonda tax“.
Gorakhpur-based contractor Shakuntala Singh said that it was Jagveer Singh, who identifies himself as “the local MLA’s representative”, who obstructed the construction and damaged public property. District magistrate Umesh Singh has initiated an inquiry. A cop, on condition of anonymity, said that “main accused Singh is indeed often seen with the MLA”.
The policeman added, “The budget for the road construction was Rs 12 crore and a local politician was demanding a hefty commission for it.” Jagveer Singh and 15-20 unidentified individuals were booked for Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and other relevant sections of the IPC.

The DM said, “We won’t tolerate such activities. An FIR has been filed and though three people have so far been arrested, the key accused, Jagveer, is still at large.”
In response to the allegations, the local MLA told TOI, “The contractor used low-quality material to make the road and I raised this issue. He must have damaged the road himself and lodged an FIR to get insurance claim.”

Watch ‘Goonda tax’ not paid: MLA-linked group damages construction in UP’s Shahjahanpur