Lucknow: Tensions flared in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker died Thursday, days after he was injured in alleged lathicharge in a police station amid a protest in the district.
The death of Siyaram Upadhyay, also known as Jokhu, has sparked fear and anger in Gathiya village, prompting authorities to deploy heavy police force to prevent unrest. His family has alleged that Siyaram died due to a brutal assault by the police, and demanded a case against the guilty officers.
Amid mounting pressure from the BJP’s state unit, six policemen have been suspended and five others assigned to line duty, following an inquiry conducted on the instructions of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Varanasi Zone, Vaibhav Krishna.
The villagers claimed that the police allegedly switched off the lights inside the Nonhara police station premises Tuesday night before lathicharging a group of protesters staging a dharna over local matters. Seven to eight people were reportedly injured.
One of the injured protesters, Rajesh Rai Bagi, also claimed that Upadhyay was seriously beaten up, and said that his “sacrifice will not go in vain”.
Superintendent of Police Dr Iraj Raja, however, denied the allegations. In a video statement, he said that no lathicharge took place on 9 September, and that protesters had gathered at the station due to a power cut. He added that a post-mortem was being conducted and legal action would be taken based on the investigation.
Raja also wrote to District Magistrate Avinash Kumar, seeking a magisterial probe into the incident. Acting on this request, the DM has formed a team and ordered a magisterial inquiry.
This is the third such row in the last 45 days, involving alleged police action against members of BJP or RSS-affiliated groups.
On 3 September, Barabanki police allegedly lathicharged ABVP workers during a protest outside SRMU University. Earlier, on 30 July, Chetan Saini, brother of local BJP leader Gajendra Singh, allegedly died by suicide after his 20-year-old shop was demolished in an anti-encroachment drive in Moradabad.
Dispute over a tubewell
Ghazipur police said that a dispute had been simmering in Gathiya village for about three weeks over the laying of electrical wires for a tubewell. A farmer was installing a tubewell in his field and had allegedly laid the electricity wire on land owned by neighbouring farmers, Arvind Rai and Santosh Rai.
Police personnel at Nonhara station summoned both parties, along with a junior engineer, and after hearing the matter, ordered the work to be stopped. But work resumed the next day, forcing Upadhyay and other villagers to protest in front of the police station.
After Upadhyay’s death Thursday, former BJP district president Bijendra Singh, along with injured protester Bagi and supporters, rushed to the spot.
Current party district president Omprakash Rai, who visited Upadhyay’s family, described Siyaram as a dedicated party worker and assured full support. He demanded strict action through a high-level probe, but clarified that the dharna was not a BJP-led protest, but a dispute between two individuals.
The Samajwadi Party raised questions about the law and order situation in the state. SP spokesperson Pooja Shukla said, “BJP workers are not safe even under their own government. The law and order situation is in shambles. Just imagine the condition of the state. The worker who died was a Brahmin, and it is well known that Brahmins are being targeted under this government.”
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
