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Din in House over police "atrocities"

Incident of police lathi-charge, manhandling of prominent citizens and businessmen of Mathura recently

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over an incident of police lathi-charge on prominent citizens and traders of Mathura recently even as a Congress MLA alleged political patronage to the district police chief.

Raising the issue, Hukum Singh (BJP) said the traders protesting a robbery in a jewellery shop in Mathura were ``mercilessly beaten'' up by police. ``Prominent citizens and politicians were part of the demonstration...they were manhandled for using a democratic way of protest.''Mr Singh claimed the SSP also failed to take timely action to prevent the dacoits leaving the district boundaries after committing the crime. The BJP MLA also handed over photographs of the injured and a CD -- part of electronic media's footage of the incident -- to Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey.

He said 25 of the arrested protestors were discharged by a local magistrate, as in his opinion, there was no need to keep them in judicial custody. "This only proves the police had arrested them arbitrarily.''

He also demanded a probe into the incident either by a house committee or a sitting judge.

Supporting Mr Singh's allegations, Pradip Mathur (Cong) rushed to the well of the House with two blown up photographs of the injured. He later handed over the photos to senior Samajwadi Party leader and State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan on the directions of the Speaker.

The House witnessed noisy scenes, when Mr Mathur alleged the SSP and circle officer had the political patronage of a senior leader of the partner of the ruling coalition.

Mr Mathur said he was not making allegations but was placing facts before the House. "I had met Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, to transfer the official. But, he said he could not be of any help as the officer concerned was wanted in Mathura by the coalition partner's leader."

In his reply, Mr Azam Khan said the CM never accepted wrong suggestions, even if made by members of his party or any close ally.

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said he would talk to the Chief Minister to probe the matter. ``We would see, if the probe report could be placed before the House.'' UNI

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