He was with them in suffering,now they’re behind him

Murder & after

Kamla Devi is pradhan of Majhwara in Sultanpur. She is canvasing for Congress candidate Sandeep Tiwari in Sultanpur because the party “helped me in difficult times”.

Her husband Ram Kumar Yadav,a revenue inspector,was killed in October 2010 after he refused to dissuade his wife from contesting the election to a gram pradhan’s post,allegedly against the wishes of sitting BSP MLA Chandra Bhadra Singh alias Sonu Singh,a history-sheeter. The police arrested the MLA’s younger brother Yashbhadra Singh alias Monu Singh and nine others while the MLA was given a clean chit.

Rahul visited Kamla Devi’s home in November,stayed there for around 20 minutes and asked about what had happened. “He promised me all possible help. When I told him that police were favouring the MLA,he advised me to move court for a CBI inquiry. I requested him to arrange a meeting with his mother,” says Kamla Devi,mother of three,the youngest of whom,Gunjan,is in Class II.

A month later,Congress workers took her to Rae Bareli where she met Sonia Gandhi. “I told her the accused in my husband’s murder are notorious people and that they were pressuring me to withdraw the case. I told her that my life and those of my children’s were at risk and I had stopped sending them to school because of threats. Soniaji assured she would look into the matter and said she would also take care of the children,” Kamla adds.

In May,Kamla Devi received a call after which she took two of her children,Brijendra and Ranjana,14 and 10,to Lucknow from where they were taken to Delhi by Congress workers. “They have been admitted to a boarding school there. I often speak to them on phone,” says Kamla Devi. Brijendra is in Class VI and Ranjana in IV.

On Rahul’s advice,Kamla Devi filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI inquiry into the murder. The petition is pending.

“The Congress helped me so much,why would I not support their candidate? I tell people that Rahulji was the only person who supported me,” says Kamla Devi. Chandra Bhadra Singh too is contesting the election,as a Peace Party candidate.

The others

Former BSP worker Achchey Lal,a farmer,is canvassing for Congress candidate Mahendra Verma in Naraini. Achchey Lal alleges his 17-year-old daughter was raped by BSP MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi at his home on December 10 and 11,2010. The police arrested the girl and booked her in a case of theft on a complaint by the legislator’s brother.

Later,on court intervention,an FIR was lodged against the MLA and his associates. Three days later,the government ordered an investigation. The Allahabad High Court,taking note of media reports,suo motu ordered the release of the girl. In September,the Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation.

“After the incident,Rahul Gandhi visited my house and asked about my well-being. After noticing the conditions we lived in,the Congress gave us Rs 2 lakh,” says Achchey Lal.

Tarannum,of Lakhimpur,is using the phone to campaign for Congress candidate Ajay Verma in Nighasan. “Whenever anyone calls me on the phone,I ask them to vote for the Congress before ending the conversation,” she says. “I want to go out and campaign openly but policemen deployed at my home for my security do not allow me to step out.”

On June 10,Tarannum’s minor daughter was found hanging from a tree at Nighasan police station. Sonam’s parents alleged policemen had raped and killed her; the police claimed she had committed suicide. The first post-mortem supported the police theory. A second post-mortem,ordered after public protests,confirmed that the girl had been strangled,though the charge of rape was not proved.

Several leaders visited Tarannum,but it was Rahul who returned. The party gave the family Rs 2 lakh.

“I regularly talk to him. I last spoke to him two days ago. He asked about our well-being,” says Tarannum. Nine policemen have been arrested in the case; the CBI has started its investigation.

Badlu Ram of Udrauli village of Fatehpur is campaigning for Surendra Singh Gautam in Ayahshah. His 16-year-old daughter was attacked when she resisted a rape attempt by two men in February last year. They chopped off one of her ears and inflicted severe injuries on her hands,face and head.

While she was in hospital,Rahul visited her. “Besides arranging payment of all medical expenses,Rahul Gandhi also gave us Rs 1 lakh,” says Badlu Ram.

He hasn’t gone back to his village since the attack. A Scheduled Caste member,Badlu Ram earns his living as a labourer.