1845 booked, 25 arrested, 6 cops suspended and a BJP leader arrested in connection with violence in Uttar Pradesh before rural polls

News Desk: A video was circulated on social media platforms couple of days back that two men pulling a woman’s saree. This led to the arrest of Lakhimpur Kheri district BJP chief Yash Verma on the charge of attacking a woman block development council member. The video showed Yash and Brij, a supporter of BJP parliamentarian from Dhaurahra in Lakhimpur Kheri Rekha Verma, assaulting the woman BDC member on the compound of the Pasgawan block office, 130 km north of Lucknow, on Thursday afternoon.

The woman said “Anything could have happened to me — the BJP members wanted to kidnap me. Rekha and Yash were close relatives and belonged to the same village, Maksudpur”

Superintendent of Police Vijay Dhull said “A case was lodged under relevant sections. Both accused have been arrested and further action is underway”

Inspector General Lucknow Range Laxmi Singh said “A criminal is a criminal and it doesn’t matter if they are affiliated to a party. We are identifying the other accused who were seen in the videos, and they too will be arrested soon”

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday also suspended six cops, which includes a Circle Officer and an SHO.

Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police Prashant Kumar said “As many as 1,845 people were booked in 16 FIR and 25 accused had been arrested in connection with these violences. A total of 24 incidents of violence, firing, clashes, manhandling and verbal duels were reported from 22 districts”

“Around  115 people were made named accused in the FIR while remaining 1,730 are unidentified accused” he added.

He further added “Polling at 476 out of 825 blocks will be held on Saturday as in remaining blocks the block pramukh had been elected unopposed. Directives had been issued to district police authorities to ensure stern action against troublemakers during polling process”