Holding Dalit pradhan captive,man ran panchayat for seven months

After seven months in confinement,Laduram was finally freed on Sunday on the intervention of Gonda District Magistrate Ram Bahadur after Laduram’s wife Kanti Devi lodged a complaint.

The police are conducting an inquiry,but have so far failed to trace Tiwari.

But the police have confirmed that Laduram had been staying at Tiwari’s residence for the last few months. They also said Tiwari was running the show on Laduram’s behalf.

“It is part of the inquiry to check whether Tiwari had forcibly detained him,” said Shashi Kant Mishra,Station Officer of Tarabganj police station.

Kanti Devi and Laduram have alleged the police are trying to shield Tiwari.

Before the election,47-year-old Laduram was working in Kanpur as a labourer. Once when he visited his village after his father’s death,his brothers advised him to contest the election.

The village pradhan’s post was reserved for Scheduled Castes and Laduram’s neighbour Tiwari offered to take care of his election expenses.

In October,Laduram was declared elected. But one day,in early November,when Laduram went to Tiwari’s house to thank him,he was forcibly detained. Tiwari allegedly told him that he had spent Rs 6 lakh on his election and had to recover his money. “Tiwari forced me to work in his field and used to take my signatures on papers regularly. Before releasing me,he took my signatures on plain papers,” said Laduram.

Kanti Devi said she was allowed to meet her husband twice a week when he was working in Tiwari’s fields. She said when she complained to the police,they ignored her. Tiwari also threatened her,she said.

On Saturday,she finally complained to the DM. “I immediately asked the circle officer to look into the matter,” the DM said. As the police started making inquiries,Tiwari set Laduram free.