Chaos Erupts in Himachal as Government Machinery Allegedly Used for Private Work Linked to Congress Leader’s Relative

Mandi, July 27 – Tension flared near Pandavshila in the Seraj Assembly constituency on Sunday when a government-provided Pokland machine, meant to clear a blocked road, was reportedly diverted for private use. The situation escalated quickly, with heated exchanges and even physical altercations among villagers.

According to locals, the machine had been dispatched to clear the road to Rushad village. However, it was instead being used in a nearby stream for an unrelated task. Villagers alleged that Congress leader Jagdish Reddy from Seraj had deployed the machine for his relatives’ private work.

When the locals attempted to move the machine back to its original site, a confrontation broke out with a group of women from the opposing side. The dispute quickly intensified, leading to a scuffle between the women. Police intervened promptly, separating the parties and deescalating the situation.

Villagers insisted that the machine be used solely for its intended purpose — road clearance.

Responding to the accusations, Congress leader Jagdish Reddy dismissed them as baseless. He clarified that the machine had not been used for any private work, but rather to divert the flow of a stream posing a threat to nearby homes. He accused BJP supporters of deliberately disrupting relief efforts for political gain, calling the incident an example of “low-level politics.”

Upon receiving reports of the incident, a team from the Janjehli police station arrived at the scene, followed by SDM Ramesh Kumar and officials from the Public Works Department. Local panchayat head Naresh Thakur later confirmed that the matter was resolved following a discussion with the villagers.