Over 100 booked for violence during Meerapur bypoll in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: More than 100 people, including supporters of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), have been booked for alleged violence and stone-pelting during the Meerapur assembly bypoll in Kakroli village, police said on Thursday.

An FIR registered on Wednesday evening names 15 SP supporters and 10 AIMIM supporters. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Aditya Bansal stated, "They are accused of attempting murder, obstructing police duty, and engaging in violence during a clash with law enforcement on November 20." The identities of other suspects are being investigated, he added.

According to the FIR, the violence erupted when police tried to disperse a group of individuals confronting them during voting in Kakroli village. The situation escalated, resulting in stone-pelting at police personnel.

AIMIM district president Maulana Imran Qasmi, however, accused the police of barring voters with valid documents from casting their votes. "The police filed a false case against workers protesting this. The allegation of stone-pelting is baseless," he claimed.

Polling for by-elections in nine assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, including Meerapur, was conducted peacefully earlier on Wednesday, barring isolated incidents like this one.


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