Panchayat Polls: Arson in UP the city as mistaken candidate declared winner

Supporters of the victorious zila panchayat member went on a rampage in Gorakhpur’s Chauri Chaura the city on Thursday and set fire to a police put up after the assistant returning officer (ARO) allegedly gave the successful certificates to some other candidate.

ARO Virendra Kumar has been booked for dishonest, forgery and fraud through police on a criticism from Returning Officer Sunil Kumar. Police have arrested 18 folks and lodged 4 separate FIRs in reference to the vandalism and arson through the supporters of Kodai Sahni, the successful candidate.

“After Kodai Sahni gained the zila panchayat member election from ward no. 61, he was once no longer given the successful certificates. As a substitute, the ARO have the certificates to some other candidate Ramesh Kumar who misplaced to Sahni through 600 votes. This angered Sahni’s supporters who went on a rampage. They set the Naya Bazaar police outpost on fire, vandalised a PAC bus and 6 bikes, and looted the property of police officers posted on the outpost,” mentioned Circle Officer (Chauri Chaura) Kuldeep Tewari.

Officers mentioned the location was once introduced underneath keep watch over after Sahni were given the successful certificates.

“4 circumstances underneath more than a few IPC sections were lodged towards 60 named and 500 unidentified individuals in reference to the vandalism. In response to CCTV photos, we’ve arrested 18 folks and are in search of others,” mentioned the Circle Officer.

Consistent with police, Returning Officer Sunil Kumar filed a criticism with the police towards ARO Virendra Kumar. “We’ve got lodged a case towards Virendra Kumar for no longer giving the certificates to the successful candidate” mentioned the officer. SSP Dinesh P Kumar mentioned strict motion could be taken towards the ones all in favour of arson and sabotage.