One man was shot and killed, allegedly by a BJP leader, and six others were injured by gunfire and hitting bricks during an open meeting called for the allocation of two fair price stores in the Ballia district of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, police said.
A police officer said that the incident took place in the presence of the subdivisional magistrate (SDM) and the circle officer at the panchayat bhavan in the village of Durjanpur, below the limits of the Revati police station, about 150 km to the east of Varanasi.
In a statement, the UP government said Prime Minister Adityanath became aware of the Ballia incident and ordered that the SDM, CO and police personnel at the scene be immediately suspended and that the strictest measures be taken against the accused. The role of the agents would be investigated and, if found responsible (for the incident), a criminal process would be initiated, the statement added.
Police Superintendent (Ballia) Devendranath Dubey said that a Dheerendra Pratap Singh opened fire and the bullet hit Jaiprakash Pal. Pal was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Dheerendra Pratap Singh was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), locals claimed and a BJP leader confirmed it.
Singh is the chairman of the Ballia district unit of Sainik Prakosht (military cell) of the BJP, according to BJP MLA Surendra Singh, who represents the Bairia constituency in Ballia. The BJP MLA described the incident as “a casualty” and said the law will take its own course.
An official said the injured were admitted to the Sonbarsa government hospital in Ballia. A large police force has been deployed in the village as a precaution.
Police said the meeting was held for the allocation of two fair price tents in the villages of Durjanpur and Hanumanganj. Two women’s self-help groups, Maa Shayar Jagdamba and Shivshakti Sahayata Samuh, had applied for the right to operate the shops. At the meeting, it was decided that a vote will be held to determine the allocation of the stores.
Police said SDM Suresh Kumar Pal and CO Chandrakesh Singh arranged for only people with Aadhaar or other valid identity cards to participate in the vote. But the meeting turned chaotic as even those without identification cards insisted on voting. The meeting was later canceled by the Bairia block development officer.
Police said both sides shouted slogans against the administration and one person opened fire.
A case was registered against eight people by name and another 25 who were not identified after a complaint from the deceased’s brother, Chandrama Pal.
The injured include Narendra Singh, 45, Aradhna Singh, 45, Dharmendra Singh, 40, Rajendra Singh, 45, and two others.
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