Murder of seers sparks tension in UP town, two policemen suspended
Lucknow, Aug 15: Killing of two Hindu seers in Auraiya of Uttar Pradesh has triggered protests and tension in the district, and two policemen have been put under suspension for dereliction of duty, an official said on Wednesday.
Those suspended are Inspector In-charge of Bidhoona Police Station Akhilesh Mishra and Constable Islam.
The two seers were hacked to death in the Bhayanak Nath temple in Kudarkot area of Bidhuna on the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday and another was injured after which angry people took to the streets and staged demonstrations on highways.
The twin murders came to light in the morning after which senior police and district officials, including District Magistrate (DM) Shrikant Mishra and Superintendent of Police (SP) Nageshwar Singh rushed to the crime scene to pacify the irate mob.
Forces from several police stations were also rushed to the spot after which the crowds went wild and there was a skirmish between people and the police.
Crowds allege that the two deceased were murdered after they informed the police about cows being taken for slaughtering by some local persons of a community.
A senior official told IANS that a probe has been ordered and the guilty will be brought to book at the earliest. While the two seers -- Lajja Ram and Halkeram -- were killed, another one -- Ram Sharan has been critically wounded.
All the three were found tied to their cots and their bodies attacked with some sharp weapons. Tongue of one of the deceased had also been slit.
A senior police official informed that the situation was tense but under control for now. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
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TN polls: TVK pushes DMK behind with leads in 83 seats, AIADMK ahead in 54
Chennai (PTI): New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on Monday when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly polls was on across Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK was leading in 58 seats while the ruling DMK was ahead in 34, EC data showed.
About two hours after the postal ballots were counted and EVMs opened for multi-round counting, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam surged ahead of its Dravidian rivals-- the DMK and the AIADMK, with the ruling party struggling to catch up.
If the trends maintain, Vijay could as well ensure the biggest electoral upset, something in lines with the "1967,1977" wins he had referred to in his campaign speeches.
While the Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai brought the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu post-independence in 1967, the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) installed the maiden AIADMK government 10 years later, unseating then DMK government under M Karunanidhi. TVK was leading in most Chennai segments, all considered DMK strongholds and currently represented by the party in the 234-member House.
A poor show by DMK could belie most exit polls giving an edge to it, riding on the number of populist measures Chief Minister M K Stalin had implemented in his five year "Dravidian model," inclusive governance.
According to EC and TV reports, 15 cabinet ministers, including Stalin were trailing. His son and deputy CM Udhayanidhi was also behind in his incumbent Chepauk-Tirvuvallikeni seat, according to a number of reports.
Stalin was trailing behind TVK's VS Babu by 1234 votes in Kolathur segment. Vijay was ahead in Tiruchirappalli East by over 3,000 votes at the end of two rounds of counting, according to EC data.
BJP is trailing in 26 constituencies and it is ahead in Thali segment alone. TVK is ahead in constituencies including Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, and Avadi.
AIADMK is leading in segments including Katpadi, and Guidyattam and party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is ahead in Edappadi segment by 7003 votes.
DMK was leading in segments including Vellore, Anaikattu and Rishivandiyam.
