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Police had to use mild force on Friday to disperse supporters of Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar after they clashed with officers.

The supporters had gathered in Laksar for a 'mahapanchayat' to support Kumar, even though he had called off the meeting in a video on Thursday. The event was planned as a show of strength after a recent shooting at Kumar’s camp office by former BJP MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion.

When police tried to stop the gathering, Kumar’s supporters argued with them and started throwing stones and bricks, Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Doval said. In response, the police used a mild lathicharge to break up the crowd. The clashes caused chaos in Laksar for nearly two hours.

 

Meanwhile, Kumar was detained in Doiwala while heading to Laksar to meet his supporters. Police said it was a precautionary step to prevent further tensions. After his detention, Kumar urged his followers to remain peaceful, saying a leader’s duty is to maintain harmony.

The rivalry between Kumar and Champion turned violent last Sunday when Champion went to Kumar’s office in his absence and fired several rounds, also threatening his supporters. When Kumar heard about this, he reacted aggressively and was seen in a viral video running with a pistol, but his supporters calmed him down.

 

 

Both men were taken into custody the same day, but Kumar was released on bail while Champion was sent to 14 days of judicial custody. This angered the Gujjar community, to which Champion belongs. 

On January 29, many gathered at his residence in Landhaura, calling the police action unfair and demanding his release within two days. They warned of bigger protests from February 5 if he was not freed.

The rivalry between Kumar and Champion dates back to the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections when Kumar defeated Champion’s wife, Kuwarani Devyani Singh, in Khanpur.

 

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