'Violence, Intimidation' Mark UP Bypolls As Opposition, NDA Claim Irregularities

UP bypolls: Allegations of intimidation, proxy voting, and voter harassment are being levelled amid the bypolls in 9 assembly segments of UP. violence has also been reported.

The UP bypolls are turning out to be eventful, with allegations of proxy voting by police to intimidation of voters flying left and right. The SP has been alleging intimidation of Muslims, Yadavs, and voters from other communities. The AIMIM, too, accused the police of intimidating voters and preventing voters from casting their ballots. The RLD, too, levelled similar allegations.

Nine seats in UP — Karhal (Mainpuri), Sisamau (Kanpur), Katehari (Ambedkarnagar), Kundarki (Moradabad), Mirpur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Phulpur (Prayagraj), Khair (Aligarh), Majhawan (Mirzapur) — are voting on Wednesday.

Violence In Meerapur Assembly Constituency

Violence erupted in Muzaffarnagar's Meerapur on Wednesday during the voting for the bypoll. Stone-pelting was also reported from the Kakroli area. According to ABP News sources, the violence was sparked after the police sought to clear an "unruly" crowd creating a nuisance outside a polling booth. Despite the police's warnings, the crowd refused to disperse. 

This is when the police started lathicharging the crowd to clear up the area. Angered at this, the crowd retaliated by hurling stones at the cops.

'Bogus Voting', 'Voter Intimidation' 

NDA ally RLD claimed that bogus voting was being done in Muzaffarnagar by people arriving to the polling booths in burqa. RLD candidate Mithlesh Pal demanded that all in burqa must be checked to ensure voter authenticity.

Asaduddin Owaisi's party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Arshad Rana, too, levelled serious allegations against the administration. Arshad Rana alleged that the administration was not allowing supporters of the AIMIM to cast their votes. "A section of voters is being targeted," he alleged.

"They [Election Commission] could have just handed out certificates just like that, what was the need for elections, the police and administration have made the by-election a joke. They are scared of the wave of Owaisi's party. Those who vote for the kite are being targeted," Arshad Rana said. 

SP Alleges Harassment Of Voters, Pause Of Voting

Samajwadi Party candidate Tej Pratap Singh Yadav said that the party's supporters were being unnecessarily harassed by the UP Police. The party also claimed that voting was stopped in several polling booths.

Samajwadi Party candidate from Kundarki in Moradabad, Haji Rizwan, had a heated argument with police personnel on poll duty today. He alleged that the police had put up barriers on the way to the polling stations to stop Muslim voters. He also alleged that the police were illegally checking the voters' Aadhaar cards and turning them away. Rizwan further claimed that police personnel were casting proxy votes.