After Assembly at Samajwadi Party Office, FIR Against 2,500 for COVID Violations

The UP Chief Election Commissioner has announced that taking cognisance of the report presented by the Lucknow District Magistrate in view of the violation of COVID protocols on Friday, 14 January, at the Samajwadi Party office, the in-charge of the police station at Gautampalli, Dinesh Singh Bisht, is to be "suspended with immediate effect due to gross negligence in the discharge of duties."

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police had on Friday, 14 January, lodged a case against 2,000-2,500 Samajwadi Party (SP) activists for gathering at the party's office in violation of the COVID-19 norms.

Following these developments, former UP CM and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav commented, "I appeal to the leaders and party workers to abide by EC guidelines and COVID protocols whenever they come to the office."

Party workers, leaders, and others had assembled in large numbers outside the SP office earlier on Friday, during the induction ceremony of former UP minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya and others.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Gautam Palli police station in Lucknow, according to the directives of the Election Commission (EC) on COVID-19-related norms, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

As per the report, the case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 188 (violation of instructions), 269 (spreading infection of disease), 270 (endangering the life of others by spreading infection), and 341 (wrongful restraint of a person), and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act.

It has also been said in the complaint that through loudspeakers, the SP’s workers were asked to clear the crowd and to remove vehicles but there was no effect.

Lucknow Police Commissioner DK Thakur said that thousands of SP workers blocked the road by parking vehicles around the party’s headquarters haphazardly and illegally organised the gathering.

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“Action as per law is being taken,” Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash told PTI.

The EC had banned public rallies, roadshows, and corner meetings till 15 January in the five poll-bound states, in view of the prevailing COVID-19 outbreak.