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Tsunami & After

BJP workers set ablaze three railway stations
in Uttar Pradesh

     Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh): The situation in the district turned violent on Wednesday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers set ablaze three railway stations and a power sub-station in the state to protest the killing of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. The party workers set ablaze Ghazipur City, Dhondadih and Jakhaniya Railway Stations on the Varanasi-Ballia section disrupting movement of trains and blocked the main highway. Meanwhile, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Basaunia town and a tight security cover has been spread following fears of communal tension in the state. Tension gripped the town when irate BJP workers turned violent setting ablaze and damaging several shops and vehicles. Additional security personnel have been deployed in the town and educational institutions have been closed for an indefinite period, police said.

     Meanwhile, the body of the MLA Krishnanand Rai was brought here from his native village Gonaur to the district hospital for post- mortem where BJP workers protested outside the hospital. Several shops were set on fire and vehicles damaged throughout the road from Mohammadabad to Ghazipur town by angry BJP workers. To monitor the situation, senior officials including the district magistrate, district police chief and others were camping in the town. The BJP legislator from Mohammadabad constituency of UP's Ghazipur district, Krishnandan Rai, was shot dead along with seven persons accompanying him yesterday near Ballia by unidentified persons. A group of masked men on motorcycles fired from automatic weapons on the motorcade of Rai and his men. Officials and Rai's party leaders said the attack could have been to settle political scores by his rivals.

     Political leaders in the capital New Delhi condemned the act saying law and order in the state was going out of hand. "We cannot be silent spectators of what is happening here in Uttar Pradesh. Something needs to be done and the situation is becoming pretty serious day by day," said M. Venkaiah Naidu, vice president of the BJP. Ambika Soni, India's ruling congress party's spokesperson said a strong hand was needed to bring law and order in the state. "Our party has always believed that law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh is becoming worse day by day and the common man does not feel safe at all. Our leaders have also raised this issue and the party workers have also demonstrated for it. This is a worrisome issue," she said. According to the police and informed sources, personal rivalry seemed to have been the key factor responsible for the murder of Rai and his associates. Rai's name had recently figured in the famous 'Golu kidnapping case' in Bihar. ources also said that Rai had a long-term dispute with an independent legislator Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, who is currently in police custody for his alleged role in last months communal riots in Mau.

Bandh in Ghazipur

     The BJP had called for a shutdown in the Uttar Pradesh town of Ghazipur today to protest the killing. Party leaders and members have been protesting on streets and have blocked the Banaras-Ghazipur Highway, demanding the ouster of the Mulayam Singh Government. BJP MLAs have also threatened to boycott the state assembly if those responsible for Rai's killing are not caught soon.

Opposition demands CBI probe into BJP MLA's killing

     Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition in Parliament today demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the killing of BJP's legislative member Krishananand Rai in Ghazipur on Tuesday. However, later, the BJP members walked out of the House following arguments for about 15 minutes, expressing dissatisfaction with the response of Home Minister Shivraj Patil that the Centre would procure details from the State Government. Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that if required a committee comprising leaders from BJP and other parties could be set up to visit Ghazipur, adding that state Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had assured that those behind the killing would not be spared.