SP workers stop train, clash with police in Auraiya

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party workers on Thursday stopped trains in Allahabad and took out processions in Mathura, Mainpuri, Etawah and certain other districts in Uttar Pradesh as a part of their state-wide bandh called to protest against the murder of a PWD engineer allegedly by a BSP MLA.

About 20 SP workers were arrested in Mathura during a protest against the killing of M K Gupta who was allegedly beaten to death by local MLA Shekhar Tiwari and two of his associates in Auraiya after he is believed to have turned down their demand for a huge sum for birthday celebration of BSP leader Mayawati, a charge denied by the state government.

In Allahabad, protesting SP workers stopped a train, while in Etawah, Mainpuri, Aligarh and Auraiya processions were taken out, the party sources said, adding that the shopkeepers kept their shutters down in several other areas also.

In Auraiya, SP supporters clashed with the police during a procession led by former party MLA Kamlesh Pathak.

The clashes occurred when the SP supporters tried to burn the effigy of Mayawati, police sources said, adding that mild force was used to disperse the protesters.