Imprisoned former state ministers Anosh Ekka and Yogendra Sao fought at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, according to two FIRs registered at Khelgaon police station on Thursday night.

The FIR filed by Sao claims Ekka demanded Rs 20,000 as rangdari (levy) from Sao. When Sao, who is the father of present Barkagaon Congress MLA Amba Prasad, denied, Ekka beat him black and blue in the night, according to Sao’s FIR.

A counter FIR registered by Ekka states that Sao abused his (Ekka’s) caste and threatened to kill Ekka, an officer at the Khelgaon police station said requesting anonymity.

Khelgaon police station officer in-charge Mukti Narayan Singh confirmed the development, saying that the incident occurred on March 31 night.

“Though a formal FIR could be registered in the matter on Thursday night, the incident occurred on March 31. None of the complainants has grave injuries. The matter will be properly investigated,” the OC said.

Asked about the delay in filing the FIR, Singh cited procedural delay as the reason.

“An FIR from jail is sent through the jail superintendent. Unlike other FIRs it takes some extra time in registration,” Singh said.

Yogendra Sao Telegraph picture

Sao was also MLA of Barkagaon.

He was housing minister in the Hemant Soren-led government formed in 2013.

He has been in Birsa Munda Central Jail since April 2019 after he accused in a case related to violent clashes between villagers and police in 2016 in which four persons were killed.

The clash took place during an agitation against NTPC authorities over what the villagers called the officials’ attempt to forcibly evacuate villagers from Barkagaon without giving them proper compensation or rehabilitation.

Ekka was the Kolebira Janta Party MLA. He was transport minister in the Madhu Koda government. He is a murder convict and has been found guilty of having assets disproportionate to his known his source of income.

The jail is hardly 1km from the state quarantine centre on the outskirts of Ranchi.