Dalit couple beheaded in Mainpuri

THE INCIDENT COULD SPARK A POLITICAL BACKLASH AGAINST SAMAJWADI PARTY

KANPUR: An upper-caste shopkeeper hacked a Dalit couple to death on Thursday after they failed to clear a debt of ₹15 in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri, considered the political fiefdom of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. The incident comes against the backdrop of a series of attacks on lower caste people across the country and could spark a political backlash against the ruling SP in the election-bound state where Dalits form a sizeable portion of the electorate.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who champions the cause of lower castes, has been vitriolic in her attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre over the rising incidents of atrocities on Dalits.

Fearing law and order trouble after the killing of the couple, the administration deployed personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Lakhimpur village.

Police quickly arrested the accused, identified as Ashok Mishra, from his house and slapped charges under the stringent the SC/ST Act.