UP Police Brandished Gun on Voters During Meerapur Bypolls? Truth Behind Viral Video

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday accused a senior police officer of threatening voters with a revolver to prevent them from voting during the Meerapur Assembly by-election. He shared a video on social media platform X to support his claims.

“Election Commission should immediately suspend SHO (Station House Officer) of Kakarwali police station area of ​​Meerapur, Rajeev Sharma, because he is stopping voters from casting their votes by threatening them with a revolver,” he posted. He tagged several handles including Election Commission in his tweet.

Muzaffarnagar Police, however, refuted the allegations made by Akhilesh Yadav and issued a clarification, stating that the police action in Mirapur area was in response to a dispute between two groups. Police described the police officer's action as an attempt to control the situation.

"After receiving information about a dispute between two groups in Mirapur during the UP bypolls, a police team from Kakarwali police station was dispatched. Upon reaching the location, stones were thrown at the police team by the residents. Police used mild force to disperse the hooligans," the police statement said.

"Kakarwali police station SHO Rajeev Sharma, who was present at the spot, took action to maintain law and order in the region. During this time, no one was threatened. Action will be taken against all those who threw stones at the police," it added.

Voting for bypolls in nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh was held on Wednesday.

A case was filed later in the evening naming 15 Samajwadi Party supporters and 10 AIMIM supporters for creating ruckus. "They are accused of attempting to murder, obstructing police duty and engaging in violence during the clash with law enforcement personnel on the evening of November 20,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Rural Aditya Bansal said, adding that a probe is on to determine the identities of the remaining suspects.