 "Visuals of police operation to evict encroachers from Jawahar Bagh in Mathura. Photo: ANI")
Criticising the Samajwadi party (SP)-led Government in Uttar Pradesh for sending the cops to face Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena (SBSS) activists in Mathura 'unprepared', the BJP on Friday said the entire episode clearly points towards links between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav-led government and the land mafia.
Senior BJP leader Shrikant Sharma held the Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav-led government squarely responsible for the deaths of the police officers.
"Such an incident has happened right under the nose of Akhilesh Yadav's government. When they knew that they had ammunition, why did they act in an under prepared manner? They have knowingly got the police officials killed," Sharma told ANI.
He said the state government was aware of the land being encroached by SBSS, yet they sent police there with little preparation, adding that the SP would pay dearly for this in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
"There is a clear link between Akhilesh Yadav and land mafia. They should demand a CBI enquiry or else Akhilesh ji should step down," he added.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan called for a thorough probe into the matter, adding that Samajwadi Party (SP) Government had failed to maintain law and order in the state.
"The SP government does not have the guts to take action against thugs and goons as the party itself is full of criminals if you look closely. Or else how would it have taken two and half years for them to take action in the matter? Whatever they have done so far has been because of the pressure from the High Court," Balyan told ANI.
With the Party coming under fire in wake of the Mathura violence, Akhilesh Yadav earlier in the day said that the police should have been 'more prepared' before trying to evict the agitators, who had encroached on the land.
The Chief Minister also ruled out a CBI probe into the matter, saying that it would be conducted only at the Commissioner-level and action will be taken against the guilty following the investigation.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Thursday's Mathura clash has risen to 22. Those killed include Mathura Superintendent of Police (City) Mukul Dwivedi, Farah Police Station SHO Santosh Yadav and 20 protesters. More than 40 people have been injured in the incident.
The incident took place when the Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena (SBSS) activists opened fire at the police party that attempted to evict the Jawahar Park late last evening.
Over 100 people, including City Magistrate Ram Araj Yadav, were also injured in the clash that lasted for almost four hours.
The encroachers, who described themselves as 'Satyagrahis', were reportedly from a semi-religious sect.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier had a telephonic conversation with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and assured him of complete help from the Centre in wake of the unfortunate incident.
