Driver nabbed, Chhattisgarh MLA relieved

BHUBANESWAR: Dantewada MLA Bhima Mandavi is a relieved man. Last week, when Avinash Bhadoria fled with his vehicle and his PSO’s assault rifle, little did the MLA know that he would make news in Orissa. Avinash was hired by Mandavi only on August 25. “Our houses are 100 meters apart and I know his family for several years. I did not anticipate he would betray me in this fashion,” he said. Avinash belonged to Ambedkar Road of South Bastar in Dantewada. When Mandavi and his family were away to attend a function, Avinash was asked to rest at home. Instead, he fled with the MLA’s multi-utility vehicle and an AK-47 rifle. Avinash has been accused of shooting a driver and looting a petrol pump on his way to Orissa. At least four cases have been registered against him. “I have now learnt that a series of loots and robberies took place on the outskirts of Dantewada and Avinash’s involvement is coming to the fore,” Mandavi told this paper. Though prima facie, Avinash’s links with Maoists have not been confirmed, Chhattisgarh Police are going into the details, the MLA said. The Railway Protection Force, which apprehended Avinash, seized the assault rifle, two magazines, two empty cartridges, a knife, an ID card and a wallet apart from 45 rounds of live ammunition. The GRP which is investigating was trying to ascertain where the rest of the bullets went since the magazines contained 60 rounds. Avinash’s father, Mewalal Bhadoria, was working with Chhattisgarh Police. He died a few years ago. What drove him to steal the gun and the vehicle was not immediately clear. While RPF says he appeared to be frustrated and depressed and may have disputes of salary payment with his employer, another source said the driver might simply have been of criminal bent of mind. Once cases were lodged against him and he was on newspapers, Avinash fled Chhattisgarh and landed in Orissa, where he thought no one would recognise him. RPF insisted that the first round was accidental firing saying that the security catch of the automatic rifle was on which led to the incident. This version is being contested though.