Jamshedpur, Dec. 14: JVM's Ichagarh candidate, who was arrested along with his aides after a clash with BJP supporters on the day of polling on December 9, has landed where most politicians of Jharkhand end up after being handcuffed.

The hospital bed.

The sitting MLA, who is set to get a tough fight from BJP hopeful Sadhu Charan Mahto (he is already nursing injuries sustained in the fight with JVM members in another hospital) when EVMs are opened on December 23, was admitted to ICU at MGM Medical College and Hospital, Sakchi, on Wednesday with complaints of hyper-tension and fluctuating blood pressure level.

Doctors say that the 56-year-old, who is popularly known as Malkhan, is also suffering from hyper-tension and high sugar levels.

'Arvind Singh's blood pressure had shot up to 170/110 when he was admitted here. If the situation worsens, he may suffer cardiac arrest,' attending doctor K.N. Singh said, adding that the MLA's present BP level is 150/96.

But the treatment that Singh is getting at the ICU makes him appear more like a prince than a patient.

Out of the three wards, one has been reserved for him. Two of the three beds in the ward are lying empty with the hospital authorities debarring entry of other patients. Strings of supporters drop in to visit him and the grapevine has it that the other day, Singh also held a meeting with them on the ICU's terrace.

Asked why so many people were turning up at the ICU, doctor K.N. Singh said: 'I have my limitations. Being a politician, people visit Singh. Of course, it is not good for his health to receive so many visitors. I will see to it that no visitor turns up.'

Hospital superintendent R.Y. Chowdhury added: 'I had gone to see him on the first day of his arrival. But I preferred not to visit him anymore due to the line of visitors in front of the ICU.'

He, however, parried a reply on why serious patients were being denied admission at the ICU and referred to the general ward.

Asked about the swarm of visitors everyday, Singh admitted as much. 'It is not possible to meet every visitor,' he added, perhaps hinting that he doesn't entertain all.

BJP's Mahto, who was rushed to Bistupur's Tata Main Hospital after being injured in the clash, continues to enjoy the comforts of his AC cabin while in police custody.

'I suffered a sprain in my hand. I am recovering gradually,' he said.

Mahto, who was placed under arrest with police invoking Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) against him on Wednesday, is also getting a steady stream of visitors.

The same section has been slapped against Singh, along with sections under the ST and SC atrocities act. The sections are non-bailable.

Superintendent of police (city) Karthik S. said they were on alert after Singh's and Mahto's admission at hospitals. 'The officers-in-charge of Bistupur and Sakchi police stations have been asked to remain vigilant at both the heal hubs. Such instructions are a precautionary step to prevent any unpleasant incident caused by their supporters,' Karthik told The Telegraph.