Supporters of UP minister's kin clash in Azamgarh, 7 arrested

VARANASI: SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is facing not only a family feud at home, but also violence among party leaders in his parliamentary constituency in Azamgarh. In a clash between the supporters of UP minister Durga Prasad Yadav’s son Vijay Yadav and nephew Pramod Yadav, several people were injured in Ukraura Bazar area in Azamgarh district on late Friday night.
Both the groups indulged in firing in the air and brick batting.No one was hurt in firing, but at least five persons were injured in brick batting. The police arrested seven persons including the minister’s nephew Pramodh and sent them to jail on Saturday. FIR was lodged against 14 persons including four unidentified under sections 147, 148, 323, 307, 308, 336, 452, 504, 506 and 128 of IPC. According to reports, there are political rivalry between Vijay and Pramod, both are former block pramukhs. On Friday night they had gone to take part in the ‘bhandara’ (feast) organised separately by their supporters at Ukraura market in City Kotwali police station area. Both the groups clashed following some verbal dispute, and soon they became free for all using fire arms and indulging in brick batting around 11:30pm. Panic prevailed in the area and people started fleeing from the scene.
The police team lead by SP Traffic Hafizur Rehman reached there after getting information and brought the situation under control. The police detained Pramod and his supporters and brought them to police station. The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital. According to police, the injured persons were the supporters of Vijay group. Rehman said that both the groups had fired in the air.
According to Azamgarh city Kotwali SO Isha Khan, FIR was lodged against Pramod Yadav, Suresh Yadav, Babloo Yadav, Shailesh Yadav, Shivanand Pandey, Raju Singh, Brijesh Singh, Santosh Singh, Rajiv Singh, Shiv Shankar Prajapati and four other unidentified persons. Seven of them including Pramod were arrested and sent to jail on Saturday. The supporters of Pramod alleged that police were taking one-sided action under the pressure of the minister. Meanwhile, the minister Durga Prasad Yadav also visited the hospital to see injured persons. He represents the Azamgarh Sadar seat in Vidhan Sabha.