Gonda (UP), Sep 13 (PTI) Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) leader Pallavi Patel on Sunday allegedly evaded police and reached the residence of slain Gonda-based utensil trader, where she met his family and demanded the early arrest of the accused, a government job for a family member, adequate compensation and security.
Patel, the MLA from Sirathu, met Vinod Sahni’s wife Usha Devi, son Raja and daughters Ragini and Vijayalakshmi at their home in Rexdia village and assured them of all possible help.
Questioning the government’s and police’s functioning, Patel alleged that backward and Dalit communities were being ignored while those enjoying political patronage were heard.
She said Vinod, who belonged to the Nishad and Mallah communities, had raised issues concerning the marginalised sections and alleged that his killing had created fear among backward and oppressed communities.
Patel said injured Vinod had himself named Golu and Akash, whose names were also mentioned in the complaint. She said the arrest of four persons and suspension of two officials would not ensure justice, and demanded long-term security and justice for the bereaved family. She said that Bhim Army chief and Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad was stopped in Barabanki while he was on his way to meet the victim’s family.
Patel is the sister of Union minister and Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel. She defeated Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, which she contested in alliance with the Samajwadi Party on its cycle symbol.
The development comes amid heightened political activity following the killing of 45-year-old Sahani, a utensil trader from Shahpur Dhanowa in Gonda’s Paraspur area.
Sahani was attacked by a group of men following an alleged dispute over social media posts and died during treatment at KGMU, Lucknow, according to police.
Police have arrested four accused so far, while one accused and some unidentified persons remain absconding. Police have also suspended three personnel, including the Paraspur SHO, for alleged negligence in handling the case.
The killing has intensified political outreach to the Nishad community ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with rival parties seeking to assert their connection with Sahani and his family. Several political leaders, including Congress state president Ajay Rai, Samajwadi Party leaders and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad, have sought to meet or express solidarity with the bereaved family. On Saturday, police stopped Rai and Congress workers at the Shahpur toll plaza as they travelled to meet the family.
Earlier on Friday, SP’s Backwards Classes Cell state president Rajpal Kashyap was stopped at Ramnagar crossing, triggering a traffic jam on the Barabanki-Bahraich highway.
Minister Sanjay Nishad, Vikassheel Insaan Party founder Mukesh Sahani and Kashyap had also staged a protest outside KGMU in Lucknow. PTI COR ABN KSI KSI
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