UP bypoll: Akhilesh Yadav shares clip of cop with revolver In hand, heard saying 'We have orders...'
PTC Web Desk: Amid allegations of electoral malpractice during bypolls in nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituencies, a video shared by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has sparked outrage. The video shows a police official, identified as Station House Officer (SHO) Rajiv Sharma from Kakrouli police station in Meerapur, Muzaffarnagar, charging at women with a revolver in hand.
Akhilesh Yadav took to X (formerly Twitter), demanding the immediate suspension of the SHO, alleging that he was threatening voters and obstructing the polling process. In the video, a woman is heard confronting the officer, saying, “You don’t have the order to fire.” The official, however, claims otherwise, asserting, “We have the orders.” The context of the altercation remains unclear.
Earlier in the day, Kakrouli village witnessed rioting and stone-pelting between two groups near a polling booth, necessitating police intervention to restore order. Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh, confirmed that mild force was used to disperse the groups.
मीरापुर के ककरौली थाना क्षेत्र के SHO को चुनाव आयोग तुरंत निलंबित किया जाए, क्योंकि वो रिवॉल्वर से धमकाकर वोटर्स को वोट डालने से रोक रहे हैं। @ECISVEEP @SECUttarPradesh@rajivkumarec@spokespersonECI@ceoup#ECI#YouAreTheOne#IVoteForSure#UPPolitics#SamajwadiParty pic.twitter.com/WfiygzqO0t — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 20, 2024
Following additional allegations of voter suppression, two sub-inspectors in the Meerapur Assembly segment were suspended. The Samajwadi Party accused the police of misbehaviour and use of force against voters, particularly women, at booth number 318.
“The police are preventing people from casting their votes and misbehaving with voters. This is affecting the voting process. The Election Commission must intervene to ensure free and fair polling,” the Samajwadi Party said in a statement on X.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa clarified that five police officers have been suspended amid the controversy. He said voter IDs must be checked only by poll staff inside polling booths and warned against any interference by police stationed outside.
The bypolls have fueled heated exchanges between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Samajwadi Party. While Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of using police to intimidate voters, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary alleged that the Samajwadi Party had deployed goons to disrupt the electoral process.
- With inputs from agencies
