SP workers torch houses of rivals

Notwithstanding the directives of their party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party (SP) workers have been openly challenging the law and order machinery by thrashing their political rivals and others.

The SP workers allegedly torched over a dozen huts at a village in UP’s Sitapur district on Wednesday night for not voting in favour of the SP nominee.

The SP workers were angry over the residents of Bambia village as they had voted for an Independent candidate. On Wednesday night, a large number of SP workers descended on the village and thrashed several villagers and torched over a dozen houses, sources here said. Some persons have suffered injuries also.

A case has been registered against about a dozen SP workers, sources said adding that three people have been arrested in this connection.

Barely two days ago, a mob of SP supporters had assaulted and threatened the scribes at Jhansi town after the SP candidate lost the polls. They also took some journalists hostage. The scribes were freed only after Akhilesh Yadav intervened.