After two clashes in Mainpuri, killing in Badaun and Bahraich, more cases of violence have been reported during the on-going panchayat elections with fresh case of killing reported from Mainpuri and Basti while an attempt on life was made in Sambhal. Interestingly, when the law enforcing agencies failed to check large scale violence in the polls, principal secretary (Home) Devashish Panda and DGP, Jagmohan Yadav, claimed to issue circular, asking the cops to take all necessary steps to avert any clash during the polls.
According to fresh report from Mainpuri, 38-year-old Ramanand, a resident of Sunnamai in Bichuwa locality, who was contesting block development committee polls, had disappeared under mysterious circumstances on last Saturday. His family apprehended that the opposite group had kidnapped the victim. The matter took an ugly turn when the body of Ramanand was found lying in a secluded place outside the village. He seems to have strangulated the death. A case has been registered and further investigations are on. In Basti, one Asha Devi, who is going to contest BDC polls from Badhena in Haraiya, was threatened with her life by Raghvendra Singh, also contesting for the same post. Asha Devi was reportedly asked not to file her papers. Reports said that when Asha Devi refused and claimed that she would contest at any cost, Raghvendra, who was supported by ruling Party, attacked her and during clash, the accused sped up his jeep and crushed one Rampal Singh, a supporter of Asha Devi to death besides critically injuring the lady and some of her other supporters on Monday night. Asha Devi lodged a case against half a dozen persons but no one was arrested so far by the police.
In another case reported from Sambhal, a village head was shot at and injured by two unidentified persons allegedly over a political rivalry in Bahjoi area on Tuesday morning. Reports said that Pathakpur village head Shahid (50) was shot at and injured by two unidentified persons when he had gone out for morning walkon Tuesday morning. The family members suspected that the attack was due to a political rivalry. Shahid has been admitted to a hospital in Moradabad where his condition is stated to be stable. An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons in the matter. Meanwhile, a rifle was also looted from a home guard going for election duty in Kaushambhi. Reports said that Rampratap Pal, a resident of Satgaha, was going for election duty on Tuesday morning. He was attached as personal security of thesildar of Chayal in Kaushambhi. Report said that on way, two motorcycle borne miscreants intercepted Pal, and looted his rifle and escaped. A case has been registered in this regard by the police and efforts were on to trace out the accused.