Maharashtra Energy Minister and senior Congress leader Nitin Raut was detained at Azamgarh border by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday. Raut was visiting UP’s Azamgarh to meet the family members of a Dalit Sarpanch who was killed in Bansgaon village a few days ago.
Raut tweeted a video of him being stopped by the Police in Uttar Pradesh to visit Bansgaon. Raut, who is the Congress’ working President in Maharashtra and AICC chairman for SC department, was on his way to Bansgaon village from Varanasi airport.
Dalit Sarpanch Satyamev Jayate alias Pappu Ram was shot dead by three people riding a motorcycle in Bansgaon village in Azamgarh district. He was reportedly killed by high-caste accused. The situation in the village and the district is tense after the murder.
The Dalit organisations in the area have demanded immediate arrest of the accused. They have also demanded an independent enquiry into the matter as the role of police, in this case, is questionable.
After Raut insisted on his visit to meet the family members of the late Dalit Sarpanch, the police detained him and took him to a guest house. He was released after a short period.
“The UP government could not stop the murder of the Dalit Sarpanch, but now it is trying to stop us,” Raut said.
He condemned the murder of the Dalit Sarpanch and expressed concerns over the law and order situation in UP. The administration has not provided any kind of held to the family of the victim and they are not allowing any Congress member to visit Bansgaon, he added.