Assault,arson charges against SP legislator

Members of a community were assaulted and four of their houses were torched allegedly by supporters of the newly elected Samajwadi Party MLA from Sevata constituency of Sitapur district late on Wednesday night.

The complainants alleged that they were targetted for voting against SP candidate Mahendra Kumar Singh alias Jheen Babu. However,police ruled out the allegation claiming that it was a clash between two communities over a petty dispute. Sitapur SP Piyush Mordia said a case against 12 members of a community had been registered and five of them were arrested till Thursday evening.

One of the victims,Ram Ratan Lonia of Bambhia village,whose house was set ablaze,said Bhule Singh and over a dozen members of his community attacked him and others. Ratan said he and his community had voted for Janvadi Party candidate Shiv Kumar Gupta.