News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Lawyer ‘shot dead’ in Shahjahanpur court: Priyanka Gandhi says no one safe in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over a lawyer being shot dead allegedly by another on the Shahjahanpur district court premises and said the incident was another chilling reminder that no one is safe in today’s Uttar Pradesh.

    The lawyer was shot dead on Monday afternoon over an old rivalry, following which four police personnel were suspended for negligence, police said.

    The victim, Bhupendra Singh (58), had filed two dozen cases against Suresh Gupta.

    Upset over this, Gupta allegedly killed him, they said.

    “The legal and judicial fraternity is an integral pillar of our democracy. The brutal murder of an advocate in broad daylight in court premises in Shahjahanpur is another chilling reminder that no one is safe in today’s Uttar Pradesh – not women, not farmers and now not advocates,” Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

    In a Facebook post in Hindi, she attacked Adityanath, saying the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh used to claim that goons and miscreants have fled the state and here, they are entering a court and killing a lawyer.

    “The Shahjahanpur incident once again established that no common man is safe under the BJP rule and the government is busy propagating lies instead of improving law and order,” the Congress general secretary said.

    Advocate Singh of Jalalabad tehsil had gone to the third-floor office of ACJM-I of the district court in the afternoon to meet a clerk in connection with some case when a gunshot was heard and he was found dead.

    Quoting the clerk Singh had gone to meet, Superintendent of Police (SP) S Anand had earlier said that an illegal 315 bore pistol was found near the body.

    A case of murder was registered against advocate Suresh Kumar Gupta and his two sons Gaurav Gupta and Ankit Gupta.

    The accused advocate has been arrested, the police said.

    Advocates in the district had launched an indefinite strike, demanding the killer’s immediate arrest.

  • Police team attacked by villagers in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    HARDOI: A group of people on Monday attacked a police team in a village here that went to rescue a woman, who was allegedly kidnapped about a month ago, officials said.

    The villagers also damaged a vehicle and thrashed its driver, Mukesh Singh.

    They forcibly took away the woman from police custody, officials said, adding a case has been lodged against 12 persons under IPC sections including, attempt to murder, rioting, obstructing government work, Station House Officer (SHO), Kanth, Rajendra Bahadur Singh said.

    Efforts are on to trace and arrest the accused persons, he said.

    About a month ago, a case with regards to the kidnapping of a 25-year-old woman was registered at Harpalpur police station here.

    After receiving information about the woman’s location, a police team reached Kurriya Kala village and rescued the woman from the house of a man identified as Mohit, Inspector Kiran Pal Singh said.

    When the police were about to leave with the woman, the villagers attacked them with sticks, the officer said, adding the officials somehow managed to save themselves and left the scene.

  • Lawyer shot dead in court complex in UP’s Shahjahanpur, accused held

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: A lawyer was shot dead on the premises of Shahjahanpur district court here on Monday afternoon over personal enmity. 

    The police arrested the assailant within four hours of the incident. The accused had admitted to his crime, said a source.

    According to SP S Anand, advocate Bhupendra Singh, 38, of Jalalabad tehsil had gone to the third-floor office of ACJM-I of the district court to meet a clerk in connection with some case when he received a gunshot on his head and died on the spot.

    The SP quoted the clerk whom the victim had gone to meet as saying that an illegal 315 bore pistol was found lying near Bhupendra’s body. Since no one else was present on the spot, the cops initially focused the probe on ascertaining whether it was a murder or suicide, the SP said.

    Later, after the probe, the police could nab the assailant Suresh Gupta, also a lawyer practising in the same court. 

    The police sources confirmed that Suresh killed Bhupendra owing to animosity. The victim had filed a number of cases against assailant Suresh.

    The police sources said Suresh Gupta was arrested and booked under Section 302 and 120 B of IPC. They also claimed that the accused admitted to his crime.

    Earlier, the advocates in the district had launched an indefinite strike, demanding the killer’s immediate arrest. The Congress, SP, and BSP attacked the state government over the incident.

    BSP president Mayawati said it exposed the BJP government’s tall claims over law and order in the state. “The murder of a lawyer on the court premises of Shahjahanpur district of UP in broad daylight is very sad and shameful. It exposes the law and order situation under the BJP government. The question arises as to who is safe in UP. The government should pay proper attention to this,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

  • Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Stray protests, no major impact of ‘Rail Roko’ in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Barring stray protests at railway tracks at some places, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s six-hour ‘Rail Roko’ stir over Lakhimpur Kheri violence failed to create any significant impact in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

    The farmers protested briefly at some places of the state.

    There was heavy police deployment in and around railway stations, but trains stopped briefly at few stations, railway officials said.

    Trains were halted at Meerut and Greater Noida’s Dankaur stations by the protesters, BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said.

    In Ghaziabad’s Modinagar, they agitated in front of a goods train which had already reached its destination.

    In Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) workers halted the Amritsar-Delhi and the Jalandhar Express trains by staging a dharna on rail tracks.

    The BKU workers also staged a token demonstration at the Raya Station in Mathura, officials said, adding that they later vacated the railway tracks.

    Meanwhile, peace prevailed in Lakhimpur Kheri, the site of the October 3 violence.

    ALSO READ: ‘Rail roko’ affects 150 locations in Northern Railway zone, 60 trains affected

    The railways had suspended train movement in the region, with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) also withdrawing its agitation there.

    Amandeep Singh Sandhu, BKU district president, told PTI that in “view of the prevailing situation in Kheri, the SKM had cancelled the ‘rail roko’ agitation in the district”.

    “Also, the untimely rains and heavy winds had hit the paddy crops in the district and farmers are busy managing the crop… the railways has also suspended the movement of trains in Kheri, hence, it (agitation) was of no use there,” he said.

    The farmers’ body had given the call for nationwide ‘rail roko andolan’ to demand the dismissal and arrest of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra to ensure justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

    Ashish Mishra, son of Ajay Mishra, was arrested in connection with the case on October 9.

    Shivam Sharma, PRO, North Central Railway (NCR) said farmers stopped the Gomti Express for two to three minutes at the Khurja Railway Station.

    The protesters, however, left after being persuaded by the police.

    In Jhansi, the farmers demonstrated for around 10 minutes at the Dabra Station and between Gohad and Malanpur stations.

    They later left after being asked by the police, he said.

    Similarly at two places between Mathura-Palwal of Agra Division, the farmers demonstrated at the railway gate and also near the Rundhi Station.

    ALSO READ: Not received any report of disturbance, say Delhi Police on Farmers’ ‘rail roko’ stir

    Sharma said there was no loss of railway property.

    “In Lucknow, police were deployed in large numbers at Utrathia and Alamnagar railway stations. The security personnel prevented the farmers from entering the stations,” Lucknow Police Commissioner D K Thakur said.

    He said elaborate security arrangements have been made outside all railway stations of the state capital, and farmers were stopped before reaching the stations.

    Kanpur Police Commissioner Aseem Arun said there was no impact of the farmers’ agitation in Kanpur as tight security arrangements were maintained as a precautionary measure.

    The SKM, leading the movement against the Centre’s new agricultural laws, had in a statement said that the agitation of the farmers would be intensified till there was justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

    It had also said that trains would be stopped from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday during the ‘Rail Roko’ protest.

    “A nationwide rail roko andolan to demand the dismissal and arrest of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra to ensure justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case will be held on October 18,” it had said.

    Eight people, including four farmers, died in the violence on October 3.

    The four farmers were allegedly knocked down by a vehicle carrying BJP workers.

    Angry farmers then allegedly lynched some people in the vehicles.

    The other dead included two BJP workers and their driver.

    Farmers have claimed that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and Ajay Mishra, who say they can produce evidence to prove he was at an event at that time.

  • Lawyer shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district court

    By PTI

    SHAHJANPUR: A lawyer died of a gunshot wound to the head at the Shahjahanpur district court here on Monday afternoon and police are trying to ascertain if it is a case of suicide or murder.

    Superintendent of Police (SP) S Anand said advocate Bhupendra Singh (38) of Jalalabad tehsil had gone to the third-floor office of ACJM-I of the district court to meet a clerk in connection with some case when a gunshot was heard and he was found dead.

    Quoting the clerk Singh had gone to meet, the SP said an illegal 315 bore pistol was also found lying near the body.

    Since no one else was present on the spot, it is not immediately known if it was a murder or suicide, SP Anand said, adding that senior officials and investigating teams are on the spot.

    Advocates in the district, meanwhile, launched an indefinite strike, demanding the killer’s immediate arrest.

    Political parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) attacked the state government over the incident.

    BSP president Mayawati said it exposed the BJP government’s tall claims over law and order in the state.

    “The murder of a lawyer on the court premises of Shahjahanpur district of UP in broad daylight is very sad and shameful. It exposes the law and order situation under the BJP government and its claims in this regard. The question arises as to who is safe in UP. The government should pay proper attention to this,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Central Bar Association president Anant Kumar Singh told PTI that the advocates have stopped all work and started a ‘dharna’ at the Khirni Bagh intersection of Shahjahanpur.

    “District Magistrate Inder Vikram Singh and SP Anand came to the protest site and we expressed our surprise as to how an illegal firearm reached the court premises even though there is police force deployed at each gate of the complex,” he said.

    Until the killers are arrested, all advocates will remain on strike, the bar association president said.

    Protesting lawyers have also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of the deceased, and an investigation of the case by a senior official, he said.

    The SP said a panel of doctors has been formed to conduct the post-mortem examination.

  • Man attacks four, including cleric, over use of loudspeaker for azaan in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    BASTI: A man allegedly attacked four people, including a cleric, over the use of louspeakers for azaan in Thanwa Mundiari village here on Sunday evening, police said.

    Circle Officer Kalvari Alok Singh said they received information from the pradhan that there had been a fight between people of two communities in the village.

    On reaching there, the police found out that a man attacked the cleric, who going to azaan, with a stick as he was opposed to the use of loudspeakers, the CO said.

    When other people tried to rescue the cleric, they were also attacked by the man, who belonged to a different community from them, he said.

    Police said a case has been registered in connection with the incident and additional force has been deployed in the village.

    The injured people have been hospitalised, they said.

  • Two girls among four family members dead after eating contaminated food in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur

    By PTI

    BALRAMPUR: Four members of a family, including two girls, died after allegedly consuming contaminated food in Shivpura area here on Sunday, police said.

    Additional Chief Medical Officer Dr A K Singhal said Kanchana (65), Suman (30), Rajni (7) and Shalini (3) of Gokuli village in Shivpura area of the district started vomiting after consuming food.

    Efforts were made to take them to a hospital, but they died before receiving medical care.

    He added that the condition of another three-year-old girl, Pinki, is serious, and undergoing treatment at a hospital.

    Singhal said the health department has distributed medicines in the village after getting information about the incident.

    He urged the villagers not to consume stale food, and drink water after boiling it, and inform the health department team in case of vomiting.

  • 45 stolen gas cylinders recovered in Uttar Pradesh, four men held in theft case

    By PTI

    MATHURA: Mathura police made a breakthrough in a gas cylinder theft case as four men were arrested and 45 LPG cylinders recovered on Sunday from an abandoned building in Mahmudgarhi village here, officials said.

    “Gang leader Gaurav from Mathura along with three more accused have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more members of the gang,” Mathura SSP Gaurav Grover said.

    He said two country-made .315 bore pistols with two live and one used cartridges along with some tools used for breaking locks have also been recovered.

    The arrested accused are Gaurav from Mathura, Rehan and Sonu who are both from Mursan town in Hathras district and Naveen from Aligarh, police said.

    The vehicle used for transporting the robbed gas cylinders has also been identified, officials said.

    On October 13, over 50 LPG cylinders were stolen from Surir-based Bhagwan Devi gas agency’s godown after the accused injured a woman and her son who were sleeping inside the place.

    Based on a tip-off, a joint operation of the SOG, surveillance and Surir police station officials zeroed in on an abandoned irrigation department building near the Ganga canal in Mahmudgarhi where they recovered the gas cylinders.

    Police are in search of the two other accused who are evading arrest and also loooking out for the rest of the stolen LPG cylinders.

  • Viewing women as manifestations of Goddess could help curb crime against them: Yogi Adityanath

    By PTI

    GORAKHPUR: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday urged people to view women as manifestations of the Goddess and said that this could help curb crime against them.

    The chief minister was speaking to reporters here after performing ‘Mahanavami pujan’ on the last day of the nine-day festival of Navratri.

    Earlier in the day, he performed ‘Kanya Pujan’ after washing the feet of young girls.

    He also served lunch to the girls and ‘Batuk’ (boys).

    Daughters and sisters should be accorded goddess-like sanctity, Adityanath said.

    If women are seen as manifestations of the Goddess, many incidents of crime happening against them can be prevented, he added.

    The chief minister also appealed to people to join hands for women’s education, health and security.

    He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, saying it paved the way for women empowerment.

    Adityanath also listed various state government schemes like the ‘Kanya Sumangal Yojana’ that seek to “empower women”.

    “The scheme ensures a monetary aid of Rs 15,000 in phases for the education of a girl child up to graduation,” he said.

    Under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana’, he said, the government supports families of poor women who can’t afford to pay for their weddings.

    Adityanath also extended Vijay Dashmi greetings to the people and said that the festival is a reminder to walk on the path of “truth, dharma (religion) and nyay (justice)”.

    “Even the biggest powers can be defeated by walking on the path of truth, justice and dharma and it certainly ensures victory,” he said.

    Adityanath will lead a traditional ‘Shobha Yatra’ on the occasion of Vijay Dashmi on Friday from the Gorakhnath temple.

  • Uttar Pradesh gangrape accused arrested 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Wednesday said they have arrested the key accused in a gangrape case of a 55-year-old Scheduled Caste woman in Jewar three days ago. 

    The woman was allegedly raped by four men, who dragged her to the open fields near her village at gunpoint and took turns to force themselves on her on Sunday morning. 

    The incident has snowballed into a political controversy with opposition parties such as the BSP and the Congress hitting out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the issue of women safety.

    “Accused Mahendra was arrested on Wednesday from a spot near his village in Jewar. He was picked up by a joint team of the Jewar police, the Special Operations Group and the SWAT,” said police.

    “A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced on information leading to the arrest of Mahendra in the wake of the incident in which another person has already been arrested and sent to jail,” he added.

    An FIR in connection with the incident has been lodged under IPC sections 376D (gangrape), 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force) and 506 (criminal intimidation), police said.