Former Uttar Pradesh lawmaker beaten to death

Former independent MLA from Uttar Pradesh, Nirvendra Kumar Munna was beaten to death and his son was gravely injured in a land dispute in Lakhimpur.

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): Former independent MLA from Uttar Pradesh, Nirvendra Kumar Munna was beaten to death in a land dispute in Lakhimpur on Sunday.

The land in question is located near the bus station and the matter is in court.

According to reports, a group came to forcibly occupy the land and the former legislator resisted the attempt after which the opposite party, led by Kishan Kumar Gupta, beat him and his son Sanjeev Kumar Munna with 'lathis'.

The former legislator was seriously injured and succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital while his son was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition.

Family sources said that scores of armed men had come to forcibly occupy the disputed land and beat up the father and son.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the killing of former independent MLA, Nirvendra Munna and attack on his son, saying that the entire state is shocked.

Taking to Twitter, Yadav wrote, "In the presence of the police today, three-time MLA Nirvendra Munna ji was brutally beaten to death in broad daylight"

"In the BJP rule, the people of the state are not only worried about the law and order but also fearful. Condemnable," he added.

The Samajwadi Party termed it as a heart-wrenching incident and asked the state government to explain.

Local people are staging a demonstration in Lakhimpur in protest against the incident.

Nirvendra Kumar Munna had been elected from the Nighasan Assembly and was an independent legislator in 1989 and 1991 and in 1993 on the Samajwadi Party ticket.

Senior police officials were on the spot and did not respond to calls.

Meanwhile, UP Congress tweeted, "Another Brahmin killed. The jungle raj in UP is getting frightening."

With input from agencies