A tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Karhal constituency has sparked political outrage following the discovery of a 23-year-old Dalit woman’s body in a sack. The woman’s family has accused a local Samajwadi Party (SP) worker of pressuring her to vote for the party in the ongoing bypolls, and allegedly killing her when she refused.
Victim Allegedly Pressured to Vote for Samajwadi Party
The victim, whose body was discovered early this morning in the Mainpuri district, has been identified as the daughter of a Dalit family. According to her father, Prashant Yadav, a known member of the Samajwadi Party, had visited their home three days ago. During his visit, he allegedly asked the woman about her voting preference in the bypolls, to which she responded that she would vote for the BJP — a decision influenced by her family’s receipt of a home under the PM Awas Yojana, a central government initiative.
Her father claims that Yadav, displeased with her choice, threatened her to change her vote to the Samajwadi Party’s symbol, the ‘cycle.’ When she refused, he is accused of killing her.
Police Action and Arrests
The Mainpuri police, after receiving the complaint from the victim’s father, registered a case and swiftly arrested Prashant Yadav and his accomplice, Mohan Katheria. Vinod Kumar, the Mainpuri district police chief, confirmed the arrests and stated that the investigation was underway. “The police have taken action based on the father’s statement,” Kumar said.
BJP Reacts to Alleged Political Motive Behind Murder
The tragic incident has quickly become a point of political contention. The BJP has launched a strong attack against the Samajwadi Party, accusing its local representatives of resorting to violence over electoral preferences. Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, the state BJP chief, condemned the killing in a post on social media, stating, “A Dalit woman has been brutally murdered by Samajwadi Party’s Prashant Yadav and his aides simply because she refused to vote for the ‘cycle’.”
Samajwadi Party Calls for Investigation
Senior leaders from the Samajwadi Party have yet to publicly address the issue. However, Tej Pratap Yadav, the party’s Karhal candidate, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and for the guilty individuals to be held accountable.
The case is under investigation, and authorities are expected to continue their scrutiny of the matter, while political ramifications over the alleged involvement of the Samajwadi Party loom large in the state’s tense electoral climate.