This Article is From Mar 08, 2012

More Samajwadi violence, this time in Sitapur

More Samajwadi violence, this time in Sitapur
Lucknow: In Uttar Pradesh, there is another incident of Samajwadi Party workers indulging in violence. Two groups of rival candidates clashed in Babna village of Sitapur district last night and huts of the supporters of an independent candidate were set on fire by SP supporters.

Few people were injured when the supporters of Mahendra Kumar Singh, the SP candidate who won from the Sewta constituency, threw stones at supporters of the Shiv Kumar Gupta, the independent candidate who lost.

One person suffered severe burn injuries. The police have arrested three people.

The incident comes two days after some journalists in Jhansi were intimidated and threatened by SP workers who were upset at their candidate losing. The reporters spent six hours locked in a room, as Samajwadi workers waited outside, with threats of more violence. The police refused to intervene. It took a message from Akhilesh Yadav to end the hostage crisis.

Among the challenges for the new government will be fighting the Samajwadi Party's reputation for shielding criminals within and outside its ranks. At a meeting yesterday, leaders said party members will be barred from recommending postings or transfers of bureaucrats; all assignments will be based on merit. In UP, politicians regularly reward or punish officials through arbitrary job placement. The party has also said it will make it clear that no goonda-giri or hooliganism will be tolerated.

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