Amid allegations of electoral malpractices in the bypolls for nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly seats, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has shared a video showing a police officer charging at women with a revolver pointed at them. The officer has been identified as Rajiv Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO) of Kakrouli police station in Muzaffarnagar district’s Meerapur Assembly segment.
Watch:
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
“The SHO of Kakrouli police station in Meerapur must be suspended immediately because he is threatening voters with a revolver and stopping them from voting,” Yadav wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
In the video shared by Yadav, a woman is heard telling the cop, “You don’t have the order to fire.” The officer, revolver in hand, responds, “We have the orders,” while walking toward her. The woman stands firm, saying, “This is not right.” The context behind the confrontation remains unclear.
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
This incident comes just hours after rioting and stone-pelting broke out between two groups in Kakrouli village earlier in the day. Police had to intervene and use force to restore order. Following the clash, officers conducted a march to ensure peace in the area.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh, stated that the groups had clashed near a polling booth and the police used mild force to disperse them. Two sub-inspectors on duty in Meerapur were suspended for allegedly blocking voters.
The Samajwadi Party has accused the police of misbehaving with voters in Meerapur. “They are being stopped from casting their votes, and voting is getting affected. Police is misbehaving with voters and using lathis on women at booth number 318 of Meerapur assembly constituency in Muzaffarnagar. The Election Commission should take cognizance and ensure fair voting,” the party said in a statement on X.
The bypolls have led to heated exchanges between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Samajwadi Party. Akhilesh Yadav, in multiple posts, has accused the police of intimidating voters. Meanwhile, state BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary has alleged that the Samajwadi Party is deploying “goons and mafia” out of frustration.
Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh Navdeep Rinwa stated that five police officers have been suspended following complaints. “Voter IDs must be checked by poll staff inside the booth. Cops outside will not check IDs or stop anyone. If such complaints come, we will take action,” he said.
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The statement was in response to Mr. Yadav’s allegations that police officers were checking voter IDs and preventing people from casting their votes. The situation continues to escalate, with both parties trading accusations amidst claims of malpractice.