Uttar Pradesh has witnessed violent clashes between supporters of various parties in the wake of Block Pramukh election nomination.

Violence was reported in various parts of the state while the nomination filing process was happening. According to police reports, a relative of a candidate contesting for block president elections from the Bahraich district was murdered on Friday.

The police have registered a case against four people including the BJP candidate for the Block Development Council elections. BJP candidate Vandana Singh contesting in Gorakhpur district was also attacked on Thursday, Republic World reported.

Vandana's supporters were also attacked and around two dozen people including Singh's husband Ranvijay Singh sustained injuries.

She has alleged that Samajwadi Party workers pelted stones and vandalised their vehicles and the police resorted to lathi-charge to control the situation.

In Basti, a clash between the BJP workers and police saw the latter resort to lathi-charge to disperse protesters. Police vehicles were vandalised, while many were reported injured.

Meanwhile, in Jaunpur, five people were injured following a fight between the supporters of two candidates broke out.

In Sitapur, three people suffered critical injuries after a clash between BJP and an independent candidate's supporters during the nomination filing, the report added.

Police also deployed security near the residence of Monika Singh, the candidate from Shikarpur Block of Bulandshahr district after she claimed that there was an attempt to abduct her from her home.

Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested one person for misbehaving with a woman candidate while she was filing her nomination for block president election in Lakhimpur Kheri district.

The president of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar used harsh terms against the state government. He said, "Corrupt people and mafias are part of the BJP now. Democracy is being murdered in Uttar Pradesh and the party talks about 'Ram Rajya'. Yogi ji had claimed that there are no goons in the state. Was he not able to see the goons during the nomination process? The government is disrespecting the constitution." 

Samajwadi Party chief and Uttar Pradesh former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav jibed at the state government for "Goondatantra" (hooliganism) in the state ahead of Saturday's block president polls.

"In Uttar Pradesh, the name of 'violence' should be changed to 'masterstroke'," tweeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Hindi.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared a video clip on her Twitter handle and claimed that BJP workers misbehaved with a woman who tried to file a nomination.

Sharing the video, Vadra wrote, "A few years ago a rape victim raised her voice against a BJP MLA, an attempt was made to kill her along with her entire family. Today BJP crossed all limits to stop the nomination of a woman. Same government. Same behaviour."

BSP supremo Mayawati said, "Even in the present BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, there is no law but jungle raj, under which innumerable violence in the panchayat elections is taking place and misbehaviour with a woman of Lakhimpur Kheri is also very shameful. Is this their rule of law and democracy' This is something to think about."

Responding to the prevalent violence in the state, CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Under no circumstances, any attempt to disrupt the law and order will be accepted. Police must act with extra vigilance and sensitivity. Strict action should be taken by confiscating the weapons of those demonstrating arms."

Image courtesy: PTI