UP records 49.3% polling in by-elections; exit polls predict BJP to win maximum seats
An estimated 49.3% of the 34.35 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the by-elections for the nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
There was tension in Sakalpura village in Loni area in Ghaziabad on Monday morning after cow remains were allegedly found there. A BJP MLA along with his supporters staged a sit-in the jungles of the village demanding action against the culprits, police said. Loni MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar held the police responsible for the alleged cow slaughter and demanded arrest of the accused within 24 hours.
Gurjar also demanded suspension of Loni Station House Officer (SHO) Umesh Kumar along with other erring police officials, they said, adding an FIR had been registered against unknown persons for cow slaughter.
SDM Satyendra Kumar Singh reached the spot along with other officers and assured the MLA and villagers of early arrest of the accused.
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SSP Upendra Agarwal also sent SHO Umesh Kumar and Loni Tiraha Chowki in-charge Sheesh Pal Bhardwaj to police lines, after which MLA Gurjar and the villagers called off their protest.
Meanwhile, heavy police force has been deployed in the area and 16 illegal meat shops were also sealed in Loni.
According to a report in Times of India, a total of four cow and calf carcasses were found in the jungles of Sakalpura around 6 am on Monday. As news spread, members of several right wing organisations reached the village and raised slogans against the local police, accusing them of failing to stop cow slaughter. Some of them wanted to take the carcasses to the main road and stage a protest there but the police foiled their attempt.
MLA Gurjar later reached the spot and started the sit-in, according to reports.
“This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place in Loni. This illegal activity cannot take place without the knowledge of the local police. I have demanded the arrest of culprits within 24 hours. Else, people will decide at the mahapanchayat in Janta Inter College on Thursday on how to deal with the situation,” the ToI report quoted Gurjar as saying.
(With PTI)
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