BSP leader and daughter found murdered, protests in Barabanki

LUCKNOW - A leader of Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was found murdered along with his teenaged daughter in his home in Barabanki, triggering violent protests in the town Wednesday, police said.

Sushil Kumar, 48, president of the party’s Bhaichara Banao Samiti (Brahmin-Dalit Goodwill Committee) in Barabanki district, was found with his throat slit Tuesday night. His 18-year-old daughter Ranjeeta appeared to have been strangled with her dupatta at their Awas Vikas Colony home in Barabanki, about 35 km from here.

Demanding the arrest of those involved in the killings, a large number of BSP activists Wednesday took to the streets, resorting to vandalism at public places and targeting several vehicles on the roads.

“Taking into account the series of protests, additional security has been deployed at a number of places,” police inspector Ramesh Dubey told reporters in Barabanki.

The murders were reported by the BSP leader’s son Rahul. “Rahul had called up his sister’s phone a number of times. After all the calls went unanswered, Rahul reached his home and saw the doors were latched from outside. Later, he came across the two bodies and approached us,” Dubey said.

No arrests have been made yet and police are yet to establish a motive, he added.