Chhindwara collector cancels revolver licence of BJP leader's brother over land dispute threat

The Chhindwara collector has cancelled the revolver licence of Nitin alias Monu Thakur, brother of BJP district vice-president Bunty Patel. The collector took the decision on Thursday. Earlier, Chaurai SDM Prabhat Mishra had sent the collector a report recommending cancellation. Monu Thakur is accused of threatening to kill a man with a licensed weapon during a land dispute.

The incident dates to October 10, when a dispute over land broke out in Shahpura area of Chand tehsil. Kamendra Thakur, a former BJP mandal president, was performing a bhoomi pujan on his private land that day. It is alleged that Bunty Patel and his brother Monu Thakur arrived there and tried to stop the ceremony. The complainant alleges that Monu Thakur scared him by showing a licensed pistol and threatened to kill him.

After the incident, Kamendra Thakur complained to the SDM and other administrative officials. He accused Monu Thakur of hooliganism and of threatening him by showing a revolver. On receiving the complaint, SDM Prabhat Mishra inquired into the matter. During the inquiry, details of cases previously registered against Monu Thakur were also gathered, and it emerged that more cases were registered against him. The SDM then sent the licence cancellation report to the collector.

Both sides have filed complaints at Chand police station. Station in-charge Rakesh Baghel said complaints had been received from both sides and the matter was being investigated. Kamendra Thakur says he was performing the bhoomi pujan on his private land when Bunty Patel and his brother Monu Thakur pointed a revolver at him and threatened to kill him. He has also asked the police to register an FIR in the matter.

Bunty Patel was earlier in the Congress. After he was denied a ticket from the Chaurai assembly seat, he left Kamalnath's side and contested as an independent. He later joined the BJP. He has also previously been accused of smearing soot on the Chaurai SDM over a compensation matter. Efforts were made to contact him for his version on this matter, but he did not answer the phone.