Kanpur: Akbarpur police in Kanpur Dehat on Sunday registered an FIR against 37 named Samajwadi Party leaders and workers and around 200 unidentified persons for alleged violence and traffic disruption during an unauthorised protest outside the Collectorate.
Police said the gathering, led by SP district president Arun Kumar alias Bablu Raja and former MP Rajaram Pal, marched to the Collectorate to protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attempted to burn his effigy. After police seized the effigy, the group allegedly tried to continue the demonstration by setting roadside garbage on fire, according to the complaint. The FIR, lodged by sub-inspector Narsingh, alleges that the protesters violated prohibitory orders, blocked the road and caused traffic disruption, inconveniencing ambulances, emergency vehicles and commuters. Police claimed that despite being persuaded to disperse, the protesters kept raising slogans, moved forward and surrounded the roadway. The FIR further states that the protesters later reached the Collectorate’s eastern gate and allegedly attempted to break it by pushing it. Police alleged that petrol was poured on another effigy and an attempt was made to set it on fire, but officers extinguished the flames and brought the situation under control.