This Article is From Mar 07, 2012

Akhilesh says he's intervening to help reporters trapped by Samajwadi workers

Akhilesh says he's intervening to help reporters trapped by Samajwadi workers
Jhansi: On a day when Akhilesh Yadav promised that his party will steer clear of "goonda raj" or any association with criminals, some of his workers were on their worst behaviour.

A group of reporters were forced to hide for more than two hours in a room in a school building in Jhansi; Samajwadi workers were outside, threatening to break down the door. They had assaulted the journalists earlier when a reporter questioned a candidate from Mr Yadav's party about his defeat in today's elections. The police allegedly refused to intervene. The reporters then rushed into the school, which had been converted into a media centre for today's counting of votes. The NDTV crew's camera was among those smashed. Vinod Gautam, who reports for NDTV, said, "There are so many of them outside. We don't know how we will go home." Mr Gautam also said that the police stationed outside are still refusing to take any action against the Samajwadi workers. Gaurav Bhatia who heads the Samajwadi Party's legal cell was a guest on an NDTV show when the story broke. He said at 8.40 pm that he has spoken to Akhilesh Yadav. The party has ordered its workers in Jhansi to disband immediately. Action will be taken against anyone involved, he said.  

Earlier this evening, a young boy was shot dead when workers fired guns to celebrate the victory of Samajwadi candidate Iqbal Mahmood in the Sambhal constituency in western UP.

At Firozabad near Agra, another group of Samajwadi workers, upset over a candidate's defeat, blocked the road and attacked a few cars.

Mr Yadav's party has marched into power in UP today, winning 224 of the 403 seats at stake. Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is 72 years old, will embark on his fourth term as chief minister. It is his 38-year-old son Akhilesh who has powered the stunning verdict, re-positioning the party as a progressive one, focused on development in one of India's most backward states. At a press conference this evening, he said, "This party will have no link to the mafia." In earlier stints in power, the Samajwadi Party was held responsible for a rise in gang wars and crimes.
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