SP Women's Wing Leader Brutally Attacked in Varanasi, FIR Filed Against Five
In a shocking incident, Gargi Singh Patel, the president of the Samajwadi Party's Chandauli unit women's wing, was brutally assaulted at her residence in Madhiya village under Mughalsarai police station. The attack occurred on Thursday morning, and Patel lodged a named FIR against five individuals, including a member of her own party and relatives of a former block chief, on Friday night.
Details of the Attack
According to Patel's complaint, Pyarelal Yadav, her business partner of 15 years and a former block chief, arrived at her home around 9 am on Thursday. Shortly after, his wife Urmila Yadav, their sons Amit Yadav and Manoj Yadav, and daughter Moni Yadav forcibly entered the house and assaulted Patel. The attackers grabbed her by the hair, dragged her, and beat her mercilessly. When her daughters Pratigya and Pragati attempted to intervene, they too were beaten. The assailants fled after snatching her gold ornaments. The entire incident was captured on CCTV installed at her home.
Arrest and Investigation
Chandauli CO (PDDU Nagar) Arun Kumar Singh confirmed that one of the accused, Amit Kumar Yadav (42) of Sujaabad Padao area, was arrested on Saturday. A search for the other accused is ongoing. The FIR was registered under sections 333 (house trespass), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 309(4) (robbery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The named accused include Urmila Yadav, Amit Yadav, Manoj Yadav, Moni Yadav, and Siddhant Jaiswal of Ramnagar, Varanasi. Urmila is the wife of Pyarelal Yadav, who is also Patel's business partner in real estate.
Political Reactions
The incident took on a political dimension, with BJP leaders visiting Patel in the hospital. Uttar Pradesh minister Hansraj Vishwakarma met her on Saturday and assured that those who assault women will not be spared under the regime of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. BJP members criticized the Samajwadi Party for disrespect towards OBC and women within its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) fold.
SP's Chandauli district unit president Satyanarain Rajbhar acknowledged that Siddhant Jaiswal is a party member but pointed out that Pyarelal and his family were present at a function alongside BJP minister Vishwakarma. Vishwakarma denied knowing them, stating that he had attended a function at a party corporator's residence where Pyarelal's family members were among those who welcomed him with garlands. He emphasized that the accused are not BJP members and that the incident exposes the real face of the SP on the issue of PDA and women. He reiterated that BJP stands with Gargi Patel.
Background
Patel alleged that Siddhant Jaiswal, an SP member, had previously threatened her with dire consequences during her stay at the party's Lucknow office. The attack has sparked outrage, with many demanding justice for the victim. The video of the assault went viral on social media, prompting swift action from authorities.
