BSP MLA booked for ‘torching’ Dalit’s hut

The MLA denied the allegation,saying the complainant,one Ram Lakhan’s son Hariram,had built the hut “on my land and then set it on fire with the intention to extort a hefty sum from me and a compensation of Rs 25,000 from the district administration”.

The MLA said the local station officer Hemant Srigyan Dubey was a partner in the conspiracy to frame him because he had got him transferred two months ago,but the SO had obtained a stay from court.

But Sant Kabir Nagar ASP Arvind Pandey said,“Eyewitnesses have told the police that the MLA’s brother Iftikhar Khan,along with his associates,went to Rajediha village where they had an altercation with Hariram. But,Khan’s role in the incident is yet to be corroborated.”

Pandey said Hariram’s hutment was located adjacent to the MLA’s land and he used to keep some belongings on Khan’s land,which was the bone of contention.

Hariram has alleged in his FIR that the MLA,his brother and others ransacked the hut and set it ablaze. Since the police found the hutment reduced to ashes,they registered a case,the ASP said.