A 56-YEAR-OLD Samajwadi Party (SP) leader has been booked for allegedly obstructing government work when a team from the Municipal Corporation went to clean a site in the Dhoomanganj area. The police took note of the incident after a video surfaced on social media that purportedly shows Amarnath Maurya, holding a rifle, chasing a team of civic officials. When contacted, Maurya claimed that he was informed that a municipal department team had entered the plot - which he claimed he owned - and was digging up bricks and taking them away. He added, “I carry my licensed rifle for my safety. I did not use it but people are misconstruing the situation and portraying it negatively.” An FIR has been registered against Maurya on charges of assault with intent to obstruct government work, said Assistant Superintendent of Police, Prayagraj, Shyamjeet Pramila Singh. No arrest has been made yet. Amarnath Maurya had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Phulpur seat in Prayagraj. He lost to the BJP's Praveen Patel. Police said that on Tuesday, a municipal corporation team went to Swami Vivekanand Park in the Dhoomanganj area to clean it. While the team was busy with their work, Amarnath Maurya reached the post and allegedly created a ruckus, obstructing the cleaning efforts and claiming that the land belonged to him Maurya said on Wednesday, “I rushed to the spot and called senior police and administrative officials. Only one officer responded, saying that the municipal team was there to clean up the area. I saw municipal workers taking bricks from my land. When I asked them on what authority they were doing this, they had no answer,” claimed Maurya. “There is no record showing that the land belongs to Swami Vivekanand Park authorities. The land is mine, and this has been confirmed by government officials in their orders,” claimed Maurya. He also claimed that two local residents are attempting to seize his land and are making "false allegations" against him. “Maurya joined the party around the time of the previous assembly election,” said Yogesh Yadav, SP’s former Prayagraj district chief.
