Bhimnagar, Uttar Pradesh:
In the Bhimnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, more than 100 people have allegedly begun fleeing from their village after being harassed by Samajwadi Party (SP) workers. The villagers say their only fault is that they supported the BSP candidate and not the SP candidate in the recently held state elections.
"We are leaving because they are openly threatening us. They say we voted for Mayawati's party and have been constantly abusing us asking us to leave or they will kill us; we're migrating to save our lives," says Aslam a villager who's leaving with his family.
The tension in the village was exposed when recently, 15 people were injured in rival SP and BSP clashes. After that, police presence in the village has been increased but the villagers say it is not helping ease the tension. With a massive police deployment after this incident, the village now looks like a warzone.
However the UP chief minister who promised zero tolerance for hooliganism says justice will be given if the clashes prove that his party workers were harassing people for being BSP supporters.
The BSP's Rafatullah lost to Nawab Iqbal Mehmood of the SP from the Sambhal seat. Iqbal Mehmood is now a minister of state in the government. The trouble began after his victory say villagers.
The district President of the SP called this a political conspiracy to defame the party and says the clashes were possibly related to land and work issues.
But with its supporters allegedly forced to flee, The BSP has accused the government of being a mute spectator. "They have always been known for their goondagiri. The suffering of this village is just one case," says Swami Prasad Maurya the state BSP President.
The police say the clashes are between two groups which is why that group and not the entire village is afraid and fleeing.
But with these clashes taking political overtones, the villagers caught in between could possibly be paying the price.
"We are leaving because they are openly threatening us. They say we voted for Mayawati's party and have been constantly abusing us asking us to leave or they will kill us; we're migrating to save our lives," says Aslam a villager who's leaving with his family.
The tension in the village was exposed when recently, 15 people were injured in rival SP and BSP clashes. After that, police presence in the village has been increased but the villagers say it is not helping ease the tension. With a massive police deployment after this incident, the village now looks like a warzone.
However the UP chief minister who promised zero tolerance for hooliganism says justice will be given if the clashes prove that his party workers were harassing people for being BSP supporters.
The BSP's Rafatullah lost to Nawab Iqbal Mehmood of the SP from the Sambhal seat. Iqbal Mehmood is now a minister of state in the government. The trouble began after his victory say villagers.
The district President of the SP called this a political conspiracy to defame the party and says the clashes were possibly related to land and work issues.
But with its supporters allegedly forced to flee, The BSP has accused the government of being a mute spectator. "They have always been known for their goondagiri. The suffering of this village is just one case," says Swami Prasad Maurya the state BSP President.
The police say the clashes are between two groups which is why that group and not the entire village is afraid and fleeing.
But with these clashes taking political overtones, the villagers caught in between could possibly be paying the price.
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