UP Poll violence: BJP supporters block highway after scuffle with SP-congress workers

Pratapgarh: Angry Bharatiya Janata Party supporters blocked the Lucknow-Varanasi highway after a scuffle between them and Samajwadi-congress alliance workers on Thursday.

While the police officials have stated that the situation is now under control and the probe has been initiated, Congress supporters have gherao the Lalganj police station demanding arrest of the BJP workers.

The case:

• The clash took place in Bhatni village of Rampur Khas assembly constituency between the supproters of Congress leader Pramod Tiwari's daughter-in-law Pushpa Devi and Bharatiya Janata Party's assembly candidate Nagesh Singh.
• The scuffle that started from raising slogans by the workers in favor of their rspective parties soon turned into violence between the two groups.
• Many people have been injured in the fight. A large number of vehicles were also damaged.
• The BJP supporters have blocked the lucknow-varanasi highway where as the Congress supporters protested infront of the Lalganj Police Station.

What Pushpa Devi said:

• I was going to attend the public gathering of Congress legislator Aradhana Mishra along with some party workers when a group of about 100 people blocked our way.
• They started firing at us and I had to escape to save my life.

What Nagesh Singh alleged:

• We were going to attend a meeting in Bhatni when Congress supporters forcibly stopped us started beating some of us.
• They also fired bullets at us and my security guards had to fire in return to save ourselves.
• We request to be provided the BSF security personnel at the polling booth.

What Police officials have to say:

• According to the Superintendent of Police (SP), "We have registered the statements of both the groups and probe is on in the matter."

It could be mentioned that Pratapgarh will go to polls in fourth phase of the assembly elections on February 23 and the results will be decalred on March 11.