The convoy of Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of State for Social Welfare, Sanjeev Singh Gond, was attacked near Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, police said on Friday. The minister is safe and a case has been filed in this connection.
The incident occurred while the minister was returning to Dala on Thursday night after attending a meeting with officials at the district headquarters,
According to Minister Gond, a car overtook his convoy multiple times and later intercepted his vehicle. The occupants of the car allegedly hurled abuses and struck the bonnet and windshield of his Innova Crysta with their fists. Sensing danger, the minister instructed his driver to speed away and immediately informed the police over the phone.
Police personnel stationed at the Son River barrier intercepted the attackers’ vehicle after receiving the alert. However, the assailants fled the scene, abandoning their car.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Verma confirmed that the car’s owner, Ankit Mishra of Duddhi, has been detained, while two other suspects, Shubham Soni and Pankaj Agrahari, are absconding. The police have seized the vehicle and registered a case based on a complaint filed by District Panchayat Member Representative Sanjeev Tiwari.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the altercation stemmed from an attempt to overtake the minister’s escort vehicle near the Lodhi Toll Plaza. The minister’s convoy was traveling at reduced speed near a speed breaker on the Chopan bridge when the accused confronted the minister’s car and attempted to stop it.
Minister Gond stated, “At first, we ignored the repeated overtaking attempts. But after my escort vehicle moved ahead, the men blocked our car and started shouting. They hit the bonnet and the windshield. I told my driver not to roll down the window and to drive away immediately.”
The incident comes ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s scheduled visit to Sonbhadra on November 15, prompting security agencies to tighten vigilance in the district.
Police are continuing the search for the two absconding accused.