One dead as mob targets BSP leader's house in protest in UP

Lakhimpur Kheri, Oct 29 (UNI) A youth was killed in firing after a mob allegedly attempted to set afire the house of ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Akhilesh Gupta here today.

The whole matter had started yesterday, when some men were extorting money from shopkeepers in a fair at Tikuniya town.

Sweatmaker Chetram had, however, objected to the move after which the men had ransacked his shop.

As per sources, the police had also denied to register a case in this regard as the men charged with extortion were supported by the BSP.

The enraged shopkeepers, who staged demonstration outside the house of BSP leader Akhilesh Gupta and also attempted to set afire his house today, allegedly faced firing from the other side, in which one Kuldeep Singh (25) died.

As many as 12 others sustained bullet wounds in the incident and have been admitted to hospital.

An uneasy calm, meanwhile, prevailed in the area and police and PAC sleuths have been deployed on the site.

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