Aligarh rural SP transferred, SHO suspended for allegedly thrashing BJP MLA

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday evening transferred Aligarh's SP (rural) and suspended SHO of Gonda police station after the local BJP MLA, Rajkumar Sahyogi, alleged that he was thrashed by the cops inside the police station where he had gone to inquire about a case registered against a VHP worker.

Aligarh: A large number of BJP workers held a protest outside a police station where a BJP MLA was allegedly manhandled by three policemen, including an SHO on Wednesday.

BJP MLA from Iglas, Rajkumar Sahyogi, alleged that he was manhandled at Gonda Police station where he went to enquire about a case filed against a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member.

Taking note of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the DGP to ensure effective action in the case.

"The DGP has issued directions to suspend the SHO with immediate effect and transfer the ASP (rural) from the district. The DGP also directed IG zone Aligarh to give his detailed report in the matter," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said.

Earlier, the MLA told reporters that on August 2, VHP member Rohit Varshney was beaten up by a man identified as Salim over a property dispute.

A case of assault was filed against Salim but a few days ago, a cross FIR was also filed in the case, the MLA said, alleging that when he went to the police station to protest the case lodged against Varshney three policemen roughed him up.

Sahyogi alleged that police have been "unduly influenced" to file the case against Varshney.

Meanwhile, as the news spread that the BJP legislator was allegedly manhandled by policemen, hundreds of party workers gathered at the police station in protest, leading to a tense situation at the precinct.

Additional police force was deployed at the Gonda police station and senior police officials also rushed there to defuse the situation.

Local policemen told reporters that a spat between police officials, including SHO Anuj Kumar Saini, took place after the legislator misbehaved with them.

Sahyogi has denied the allegations of misbehaviour. "We will not accept anything except complete justice in this manner," he said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav sought a probe into the matter.

"The condition under BJP's rule is such that the party's own MLA is alleging that he was thrashed by police. This matter should be probed and also what the MLA said or did due to which all limits of dignity were crossed," Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi with the hashtag "NoMoreBJP".

Senior district officials were earlier closeted with top BJP leaders, including BJP MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam to resolve the issue.

WITH PTI INPUTS