Sensational incident ahead of mayor election, attempt to abduct Congress councillors from bus; case filed against six
Chandrapur (The Uttam Hindu): A shocking incident came to light in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, where an attempt was allegedly made to abduct newly elected Congress councillors from a bus just days before the mayoral election. Masked men tried to stop the bus when the councillors were travelling to Nagpur for official work related to the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC). Police have registered a case against six persons and arrested one accused.
According to the police, the incident occurred around 5:45 pm near Yelkeli Toll Plaza on the Samruddhi Expressway in Wardha district. Nearly 20 masked individuals, arriving in four to six vehicles, surrounded the bus and tried to forcibly pull the Congress councillors out.
Councillors said to be linked with Vijay Wadettiwar group
A senior Congress councillor present on the bus said the attempt failed due to the timely arrival of party workers and swift police action. Party sources stated that 17–18 councillors on the bus are considered supporters of Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar. They were heading to the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Nagpur to complete formal registration of their electoral victory.
Police intervene after scuffle
On receiving information, the Sawangi police station team rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. During the scuffle, Congress workers caught one accused, identified as Kanain Siddiqui of Nagpur, who was later arrested by the police. Based on a complaint filed by councillor Rajesh Adur, a case has been registered against Kanain Siddiqui and five others under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Several unidentified persons have also been named in the FIR.
Power tussle within Congress over mayor post
The incident comes amid an internal power struggle within the Congress over the mayor’s post in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation. One faction is led by Vijay Wadettiwar, while the other is reportedly aligned with Congress MP Pratibha Dhanorkar. In the January 15 civic elections, Congress emerged as the largest party with 27 seats in the 66-member CMC, though short of the 34-seat majority mark. The BJP won 23 seats, while Shiv Sena (UBT) secured six. The mayor and deputy mayor elections are scheduled for February 10. Police are continuing a detailed investigation into the matter.