BJP seeks CBI probe into Mathura violence

Lucknow: A BJP delegation on Monday met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and demanded a CBI probe into the Mathura violence and expulsion of PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, even as party workers held state-wide demonstrations during which they also clashed with police.

The delegation was led by BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya, party spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. While appreciating the courage of officers and policemen during the Mathura incident, he demanded that a CBI probe should be ordered immediately.

In its memorandum, the party alleged law and order has collapsed completely during the Samajwadi Party rule and land and mining mafia were enjoying patronage of the government.

It claimed the Mathura incident indicated that land mafia agitators have patronisation of some "prominent" leaders of ruling party. It alleged that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was misleading people by giving false statements.

Pathak said it has been demanded that a free hand should be given to the police to take strict action against land mafia. The party demanded that maximum compensation and class-II job should be given to one member in the family of the two police officers killed during the violence. It demanded that Shivpal Yadav should be sacked immediately for "patronising land mafia".

Earlier in the day, BJP workers clashed with police while attempting to gherao the Uttar Pradesh Assembly building here to protest against the Jawahar Bagh incident in Mathura. Party supporters held demonstrations across the state and submitted memorandums.

"Demonstrations were held at district headquarters across the state demanding resignation of PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and a CBI inquiry into the Mathura violence," Pathak added.

Twenty-nine people, including two police officers, were killed during clashes between encroachers and police in Mathura last week. The violence had claimed the lives of Superintendent of Police (City) Mukul Dwivedi and SHO Santosh Kumar.