Alok Pandey And Ishadrita Lahiri

Of all the states going to polls in the next few days, the contrast couldn't perhaps be more stark than between Uttar Pradesh and Goa. One is the country's largest and most populous state, the other among the country's smallest.

The nearly 1,000 policemen who entered the large park in the heart of Mathura were completely ambushed. From treetops, bullets showered down on them. On the ground, squatters- a heaving, ferocious mob of 3,000 - used swords, sticks and grenades. Flames raged as they set gas cylinders on fire. It took at least two hours before the squatters deserte...

Of all the states going to polls in the next few days, the contrast couldn't perhaps be more stark than between Uttar Pradesh and Goa. One is the country's largest and most populous state, the other among the country's smallest.

The nearly 1,000 policemen who entered the large park in the heart of Mathura were completely ambushed. From treetops, bullets showered down on them. On the ground, squatters- a heaving, ferocious mob of 3,000 - used swords, sticks and grenades. Flames raged as they set gas cylinders on fire. It took at least two hours before the squatters deserte...