Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Attar Singh Bhedana died at SMS Hospital in Jaipur late on Sunday night, 12 October 2025, after he was allegedly set upon by a group of villagers at a crusher site in Bhaunda village, under the Weir police station area of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. The attack, which involved sticks and stones, stemmed from a long-running dispute over a crusher mining lease that locals say has festered for nearly four years.

How the Violence Unfolded

According to preliminary police information, the confrontation occurred between 6:30 pm and 7 pm on Sunday when Bhedana visited the crusher site, reportedly to resume operations that had been shut for approximately a year. Villagers allege that 40–50 people associated with the Bhedana faction arrived at the site and forcibly removed protesters who had been staging a demonstration there for the previous 10–15 days. The situation rapidly escalated into a physical clash, with both sides allegedly hurling sticks and stones.

Bhedana and his associate, Gagan Sharma, a resident of Nadbai, sustained serious injuries. A group of roughly 70–80 people was allegedly involved in the attack. Both men were initially taken to Weir Hospital; Bhedana was subsequently referred to SMS Hospital in Jaipur, where he died at around 11:30 pm. Sharma was referred to Bharatpur for further treatment.

Police Response and Conflicting Claims

Jitendra Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of the SMS police station, confirmed Bhedana's death while undergoing treatment. His body has been kept in the hospital mortuary. SHO Dhirendra Singh of Weir police station said the dispute between villagers and the crusher operator had been ongoing for approximately four years, with intermittent protests by villagers over the past two years.

As of the time of the statement, neither side had filed a formal police complaint. Additional personnel had been deployed from Bharatpur, and officers were gathering information about unconfirmed reports of firing at the site. The exact number of people injured in the broader clash also remained unclear, with roughly 20–25 employees reportedly present at the plant during the incident.

Family Allegations of Administrative Inaction

Bhedana's wife, Kamlesh, alleged that police and district administration had been repeatedly informed about problems at the crusher site but had failed to act. She said the electricity connection to the mining lease had been disconnected and the water pump had been damaged. She also claimed that her husband had suffered a gunshot wound. However, doctors at Weir Sub-District Hospital said they had prima facie ruled out the possibility of a gunshot injury. Dr Ravi of Weir Sub-District Hospital noted that the injured were brought to the facility at around 8:15 pm and, after initial treatment, referred to higher facilities.

The Underlying Land Dispute

Villagers have accused Bhedana of encroaching on grazing land and carrying out illegal mining. A separate dispute over the access road to the lease area has also been reported. The crusher plant had reportedly remained non-operational for around a year before Bhedana's attempt to restart it triggered Sunday's fatal confrontation. This is the backdrop against which both sides have traded allegations — making the incident not merely a criminal episode but the violent culmination of a protracted local land and livelihood conflict.

Investigation Under Way

Police are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of the fatal clash, including assessing the number of injured and verifying conflicting accounts from both sides. Further details are expected as the probe progresses.