Two held, cops look for SP worker who hired bouncers to 'guard' tomatoes
Varanasi (UP), Jul 10: Police have arrested a vegetable shop owner and his son over a video in which a Samajwadi Party worker is seen with two "bouncers" purportedly hired to "protect" high-priced tomatoes.
The SP worker Ajay Fauji -- who had portrayed himself as the shop owner is absconding, Ashwani Pandey, the SHO of Varanasi's Lanka police station, said on Monday.
Jagnarayan Yadav and his son Vikas Yadav were arrested Sunday for "defamation", police said. On video, the SP worker had claimed that he deployed two bouncers to deal with customers haggling over the price of tomatoes.
The SP has been attacking the BJP government over the rising prices of the commodity.
Fauzi had cut a tomato-shaped cake and distributed tomatoes to mark party president Akhilesh Yadav's birthday recently.
Police said a case has been registered under sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 291 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted over the detention of one of the vegetable seller who he said was merely drawing the attention of the government on an issue of public interest.
In another tweet in Hindi on Monday, the SP chief said there was "no space" for satire and sarcasm in the country.
वाराणसी में महंगाई जैसे जनहित के विषय पर सरकार का ध्यानाकर्षण करनेवाले सब्ज़ीवाले को थाने में बिठाना कहाँ तक उचित है। इस समाचार के फैलने से प्रदेशभर के समस्त सब्ज़ी विक्रेता आक्रोशित हो रहे हैं। उस सब्ज़ीवाले को तुरंत छोड़ा जाए।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 9, 2023
जिस देश-प्रदेश में स्वस्थ व्यंग्य और कटाक्ष के लिए स्थान न हो वहाँ समझ लेना चाहिए, दूसरों को डरानेवाली सत्ता, स्वयं डरी हुई है। ‘मदर ऑफ़ डेमोक्रेसी’ की बात इस माहौल में बेमानी जुमला लगती है। देश के प्रमुखतम संसदीय क्षेत्र में लोकतंत्र का ये हाल है तो बाकी देश में क्या होगा।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 10, 2023
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
