SBSP MLA booked for violence during Kushinagar protest

Gorakhpur: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party MLA, Ramanand Baudh, who represents the Ramkola constituency in Kushinagar was booked along with 138 others for the violence that erupted on Saturday evening following rumours of custodial death of one Naurang Singh, a drug peddler, who was arrested and jailed on August 14.

The case was registered at Ahrauli Bazar police station on Sunday evening but no one has been arrested so far, said police officials.

Locals staged a protest and blocked road, ransacked shops and torched huts following rumours of the custodial death. Police force from three stations had to use force to control the mob.

Police registered case against MLA Ramanand Baudh and others on the written complaint of one Santosh Pandey of Ahrauli Bazar. “ A named FIR has been lodged against MLA, 79 others and 60 unidentified for violence in which protesters indulged in brick batting, ransacking and set huts on fire. All have been booked under section 426, 342, 504, 506 of IPC,” said Ahrauli Bazar SHO, Jitendra Singh. Raids are on to arrest the accused, he added.

Naurang Singh, a drug peddler, was arrested on August 14 under NDPS Act and was sent to jail in Deoria district. On Saturday, rumours of his death in jail started floating, triggering anger among locals who started protest. The MLA also reached the site on getting information.

Rejecting the charges of inciting the mob, MLA Baudh said on phone, “I was in Hata when somebody told me that Naurang Singh had died in jail. I called superintendent of jail who said Singh was absolutely fine. I rushed to the spot and pacified the mob by telling them Singh was alive and returned after pacifying the crowd. I don’t know what happened later.”