Massive violence erupted in several districts of Uttar Pradesh during the nominations for the block head (block pramukh) elections in 825 blocks of the state on Thursday. In the Sitapur district, three people were injured in a firing, while former assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey was reportedly heckled in Siddharthnagar.
In most places, clashes took place between supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP). There were reports of stone-pelting near several block offices between supporters of the two parties. The police later lathi-charged the supporters to control the violence.
However, is some other places, the state police allegedly did not intervene to curb the violence. SP leaders alleged that several of their candidates were not allowed to file their nominations, either by the police or BJP workers.
The violence was most intense in the Kasmanda block of the Kamlapur police station area in Sitapur. Reports say unknown persons hurled grenades to prevent an independent candidate from filing his nomination. Several rounds of firing were also reported, which caused a stampede in the area.
Despite a lathi charge, the police failed to control the violence. Tension prevailed in the locality after firing was reported.
Three people were injured in the fire, and they have been referred to the Lucknow Trauma Center and are said to be in critical condition. Amidst the mayhem in the Kasmanda block, the BJP supported candidate Guddi Devi and independent candidate Munni Devi filed their nominations.
In Maharajganj, the BJP supported candidate Soni Kashyap filed nomination in Sadar block but the party’s supporters tried to stop the independent candidate Anita from filing a nomination. The police reportedly did not step in to control the clash.
In the Powai block of Azamgarh district, the saffron party’s workers did not allow the SP candidate to file his nomination until 2 pm. BJP MLA Arun Kant Yadav was also present at that time. BJP workers attacked the SP candidate Onkar Yadav, who received injuries to his forehead.
In the Tanda block of Ambedkar Nagar, the BJP candidate Tejashwi Jaiswal allegedly snatched the nomination papers from the hands of former BSP minister Lalji Verma. In the Siddharthnagar district, former assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey was heckled when he was accompanying the SP-supported candidate to file nomination. His vehicle was also vandalised.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal candidate (RLD) Anshu Chowdhry was reportedly stopped by the police while she was on her way to file her nomination at the Chhaprauli block in Baghpat district. Annoyed RLD workers created a ruckus in the area and accused the local police of trying to stop them from filing the nomination.
In Unnao district, disruptions were reported in Nawabganj and Asoha. Supporters of the BJP supported candidate tore up an independent candidate’s form in Nawabganj. While in Asoha, the SP supported candidate was prevented from filing nomination, prompting the party’s MLC Sunil Sajan and other the local office bearers to reach the spot and protest.
In Etah district, the nomination paper was snatched from the hands of the SP candidate Guddi Devi, who came to file nomination from the Marhara block. When the police tried to intervene, they were pelted with stones. Several policemen were reportedly injured.
During the nomination process in Chakarnagar in Etawah, Shiv Kishore Yadav, the husband of SP candidate Sunita Devi, opened fire at Rakesh Yadav, the husband of the BJP candidate Radha Devi, injuring him. Soon after the incident, heavy police force reached the spot and controlled the situation.
Clashes were also reported between BJP and SP supporters during the nomination process in the Jagir block of the Mainpuri district. Ruling party supporters surrounded SP MLA Brijesh Katheria’s car. The windshield of an SP leader’s car was broken in an attack.
In Dhampur, Bijnor, independent candidate Kusum Raghuvanshi and her supporters were stopped by the BJP workers outside the block office premises. They were reportedly assaulted, forcing Raghuvanshi to take shelter in a bank.
In the Maya Block of Ayodhya district, where clashes were reported between SP-BJP worker, the former’s workers blocked the Ambedkar Nagar road at the Maya Bazar intersection. This was reportedly done to protest against the injuries suffered by a worker.
Violence was also reported in Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Kannauj, Sambhal,
‘Throttling democracy’
While commenting on the violence, former chief minister and the SP president Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling party of indulging in “anarchy and violence” and “making a mockery of democracy”. He said that supporters of the ruling party were “openly throttling” democracy and the accused the police and administration of inaction.
The additional director general (law and order) of police Prashant Kumar said that reports of violence have been received from 14 districts, including Mainpuri, Sitapur, Kannauj and Siddharthnagar. He said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty, adding that the police had made elaborate security arrangements to conduct free and fair elections. Elections for the post of chiefs in 825 blocks will be held on Saturday.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also lashed out at Prime Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the violence, saying the BJP’s workers misbehaved with women and attacked media persons. She also blamed supporters of the ruling party for reports of bombs being hurled and bullets being fired.