UP govt attacked in Assembly on alleged rape incident in Sharavasti

Lucknow, July 13 (UNI) Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) today stalled the proceedings of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly over alleged rape of minority women by a mob led by the brother of a minister in Sharavasti district on July 10.

The Opposition members trouped into the well of the House leading to adjournment for about 40 minutes even as the SP members raised anti-government slogans demanding dismissal of the minister.

Agenda of the House including the budgetary grants of the department were taken up amid pandemonium and ruckus by the members who even stood up on the reporters table alleging that the police was not registering case against the culprits.

Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar tried to pacify the members and asked the government to give a statement on the incident.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma in a brief statement said that concerned police station in-charge Naveen Kumar Mishra was suspended with immediate effect.

A high level inquiry has been ordered in the issue even as the preliminary report denied of any mass rape, he added.

Raising the issue just after the House assembled for the day, SP's Waqar Ahmed Shah and Ambika Choudhury alleged that four women from the minority community at village Dhannipurwa under Sisiya police station in Sharavasti district were allegedly raped on July 10.

The houses of the minorities were looted and the mob of about 1000 people led by brother of the minister even paraded the women naked, they added.

SP's deputy leader Mohammad Azam Khan wondered as to what happened to the claim of 'Bhay Mukt Samaj(terror-free society)' the BSP government wanted to give.

On the other hand, BJP members walked out of the House, in protest against the deadlock, and cancellation of the Question Hour.

Later, talking to mediapersons Mr Verma said, the FIR of the case was registered on July 12 Devipatan Divisional Commissioner has been asked to investigate the matter.

Claiming that the matter was a result of dispute between two families over elopement of a girl named Vandana with one Salim, the minister said, there is no communal tension in the area even as additional forces have been rushed to the spot.

He also denied involvement of any minister in the case or rape of any woman of the said village.

''The SP members are only trying to take political mileage of a minor dispute,'' he added.

UNI