Teenaged girl's death rocks UP legislature; oppn claims

The issue of the recovery of the body of a teenaged girl near the chief minister's residence today rocked the Uttar Pradesh legislature as opposition members targeted the Samajwadi Party government alleging "jungle raj" and "anarchy" have been unleashed in the state.
Chairman of the Legislative Council Om Prakash Sharma asked the state government to probe alleged laxity by policemen who have been accused of failing to take immediate action in the matter after the girl went missing.
In the Lower House, right after it met at 11 AM, Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya of BSP alleged that the state government has failed to ensure law and order due to which there was an "atmosphere of fear".

The recovery of the body of a Class XII girl near the CM's residence showed there was no "fear" of police among unscrupulous elements, he claimed.
Maurya thereafter walked out of the House and was soon joined by Congress members who made similar allegations against the SP government.
"The government should ensure law and order," Congress Legislative Party leader Pradeep Mathur told reporters outside the House, adding that the "people of the state are agitated due to the lawlessness".

The proceedings of Legislative Council had to be adjourned for 15 minutes following strong protest by BSP, Congress and BJP members over the law and order issue.

While Leader of Opposition in the Council Naseemuddin Siddiqui raised the question of law and order through an adjournment notice, other opposition members, including those from BSP, BJP and Congress, stormed the well of the Upper House, raising anti-government slogans.
Chairman Om Prakash Sharma requested the members to return to their benches but, as the din continued, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes.
During zero hour, BSP members raised the same issue and sought a two-hour discussion on the it.
Siddiqui claimed the girl was the niece of a senior BSP leader and former minister of state and alleged that police had lodged an FIR in the case only after pressure was put on them.

Leader of the House Ahmad Hasan condemned the incident and said there were indications of sexual molestation before death in the post-mortem report.
Hasan said the government was of the view that those involved in such crimes should receive capital punishment.
Rejecting the adjournment notice, Upper House Chairman Om Prakash Sharma directed the state government to conduct an inquiry into the alleged laxity by policemen.
Later, BSP staged a walkout again from the Assembly over the issue.
Speaking on the adjournment notice, Maurya alleged that "jungle raj and anarchy was at its peak in the state".
He said that the student had gone missing on February 10 but police, instead of taking action, asked her family members to find her. The BSP leader alleged that even top officers gave no importance to the incident.

Swami said had timely action been initiated, such a painful incident would have not occurred.
BJP Legislature Party Leader Suresh Khanna claimed that one dozen such incidents have occurred within a year in UP.
Responding to the charge from the opposition, UP Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan said it was a heinous crime and very painful.
"It is shameful for everyone. Law is following its course and two persons have been arrested," he said, adding that efforts were being made to arrest the other accused.
He said action would be taken if there was laxity on the part of any policemen.