UP panchayat polls: One injured in clash between rival groups

Mainpuri: One person was seriously injured in a clash among supporters of two Independent candidates contesting zila panchayat elections here, police said on Monday.

The incident happened last night when SP MLA from Sadar Raj Kumar Yadav and his supporters were returning after campaigning for his wife, Bandana, who is contesting zila panchayat polls.

The MLA and his supporters were stopped by another party member, Sujan Singh, who is contesting the elections as an Independent, and his son Sunil Yadav near Nagla Andhra village, police said.

Singh and Sunil opened fire at the MLA and his supporters in which Raj Kumar's driver, Neeraj, sustained head injuries. He was later admitted to a hospital, they said.

Singh and Bandana, backed by SP, are fighting polls from the same ward.

The SP MLA named Singh and Sunil in an FIR filed with police. Meanwhile, Sunil also lodged a counter-FIR alleging that they were fired upon by the MLA.

Mainpuri SP Rakesh Shanker said the true picture would emerge only after a probe.

Taking a serious note of the incident, SP has expelled Singh, zila panchayat member Satish Yadav and former Kuraoli block pramukh also called Satish Yadav.

"These have been expelled on charges of anti-party activities and a letter in this regard sent by party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary from Lucknow has been received here," a party office bearer said.

The zila panchayat member and former Kuraoli block pramukh were present on the spot at the time of incident, he added.