Amid tight security and a tense atmosphere, UP block panchayat chief polls to be held tomorrow
Yesterday, July 8, violent attacks and rioting were reported from various districts of Uttar Pradesh as candidates stepped out to file their nominations for the block panchayat polls. Six police officials have been suspended and FIRs filed, but tension looms large.
Reports of rioting and violent attacks were also reported from districts including Sitapur, Bahraich, Unnao, Kannauj, Jaunpur, Etah, Basti and Sidharthnagar.
Mohit Shukla and Brijendra Dubey
Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh
In the wake of violence during the filing of nomination papers in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, on July 8, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, today, ordered suspension of six police officials from the Pasgwan block police station.
Arvind Kumar Chaurasia, District Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri told the press that the assistant district magistrate (ADM) and the assistant superintendent of the police (ASP) have been ordered to conduct a joint investigation of the incident in which a woman named Anita Yadav was allegedly harassed while she was on her way to file the nomination papers in the Mohammedi area on July 8.
“Circle Officer Abhay Pratap Mall, Station House Officer Adarsh Kumar Singh, Inspector Hanuman Prasad Yadav, Sub-Inspector Durgesh Gangwar, Sub-Inspector Ugrasen Singh, and Sub-Inspector Mahesh Pratap have been suspended from the police station in the Mohammadi area of the block on the orders of the chief minister,” Vijay Dhull, Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur Kheir stated.
A First Information Report (FIR) mentions that sections 147 (rioting), 171 F (impersonation of a public servant), 354 (criminal force to outrage modesty), 392 (robbery), 427 (mischief causing financial damage) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been registered against 14 accused persons at the Parsgawan block police station.
Lakhimpur Kheri isn’t the only district of Uttar Pradesh which witnessed violence yesterday, the day for filing the nomination papers for the block panchayat chief elections.
Reports of rioting and violent attacks were also reported from districts including Sitapur, Bahraich, Unnao, Kannauj, Jaunpur, Etah, Basti and Sidharthnagar.
Block panchayat polls
On July 5, the State Election Commission had issued a notification for the polls, for which nominations were to be filed between 11 am to 3 pm on July 8.
The last date to withdraw the candidature is July 9. Voting will be held on tomorrow, July 10, from 11 am to 3 pm and the counting will be held after that on the same day.
Yesterday’s violent attacks, splashed all over social media too, have become a political issue with allegations flying thick and fast. The Samajwadi Party as well the Congress have blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the violence. But, the latter’s representatives have denied such allegations.
Talking to Gaon Connection about the incident, BJP’s district incharge said, “People indulging in such acts cannot be the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, whoever is responsible for the incident will be punished in accordance with the law,” Sunil Singh, BJP’s Lakhimpur Kheri district incharge, told Gaon Connection.
Shots fired in Sitapur
Not very far from Lakhimpur Kheri, in the neighbouring district of Sitapur, a person reportedly sustained a bullet injury in firing by a mob of unidentified persons during the nomination of poll papers yesterday.
It is alleged that some unidentified persons were impeding the filing of nomination papers by an independent candidate named Munni Devi. In the conflict that ensued, many rounds of shots were fired and crude bombs were used as well, claim eyewitnesses. One person was wounded.
Devi approached the local police station and got an FIR registered at Kamlapur police station with several charges including an attempt to murder.
Circle Officer from Sidhauli area stated that to avoid any untoward incident, CCTV cameras have been installed in the block office and two platoons of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed and an additional 250 police personnel are at the site.
FIRs filed, action assured
In a statement, Sitapur District Magistrate Vishal Bharadwaj said, “While the nomination of papers was being carried out, there occurred a clash between the supporters of two candidates in the Kasmanda block and shots were fired. A person has sustained injury in his head and has been sent to Lucknow for better medical treatment. Four accused have been arrested and further investigation is underway”.
SN Saraswat, the Additional Director General stated that the case has been registered and instructions have been issued to the investigating officials to ensure that no innocent person gets nabbed.
“Also, the Superintendent of Police has been directed to ensure the law and order situation during the upcoming elections,” he added.