3 arrested after threats, attack on BJP Councillor’s son:Assault over video of spitting on Mahakal procession; accused warned him not to retract his testimony

Indore police have arrested three individuals in connection with an attack and threat case targeting the son of a BJP councillor from Ward-19.
The incident occurred on December 20, when six youths allegedly entered the councillor’s son’s office. Three of the accused are currently in custody, while the others remain at large. Threat call preceded the attack Masoom Jaiswal, the councillor’s son, filed a complaint at Banganga police station, stating that he received a threatening phone call on the morning of December 20. The caller, who identified himself as Shahrukh alias Jaleel Khan from Nazarpur, Ujjain, allegedly threatened Masoom, referencing a Hindu-Muslim dispute and demanding a face-to-face meeting. Masoom said he urged Shahrukh to discuss the matter calmly. Around 2 pm, Shahrukh, accompanied by associates on two motorcycles, reached the office. While two of his companions waited outside, Shahrukh reportedly entered the office, brandishing a knife and kicking the door. Assault inside office Shahrukh allegedly threatened Masoom, stating that if he did not retract his testimony regarding a spitting incident during the Mahakal procession in Ujjain, he would face consequences. During the commotion, two office staff members, Anita and Meera Bai, were injured. Police investigation led to the arrest of Saurabh, Golu, and Vinod, residents of Indore. ACP Rubina Mizvani said it is still unclear whether the attack was directly linked to the original Mahakal procession case, and the police are investigating all angles. Background: Mahakal procession spitting incident The case traces back to July 17, 2023, during the Mahakal procession in Ujjain, when a person allegedly spat from a terrace. Masoom recorded the incident on his mobile phone, and the video later went viral, prompting an FIR. Two witnesses later changed their statements, but Masoom maintained his original testimony. Police confirmed that six accused had visited the office on the day of the attack, and the office DVR has been seized for evidence. Prior administrative action Following the spitting incident, authorities had demolished the accused’s house. A team from the municipal corporation and police carried out the action in Tanki Chowk, shutting down nearby shops temporarily. Additional SP Akash Bhuria stated that the demolition included the removal of illegal portions of the house using the official public announcement system and DJ for public notification. Political opposition The AIMIM party opposed the demolition. Party leader Tauqeer Nizami criticized the move, stating that demolishing a house for a minor mistake, forcing women and children onto the streets, was wrong and influenced by the BJP government.