Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA protests 'extortion' by police; government promises action

Ballia: A BJP MLA, who sat on a protest alleging extortion by the police, called off his dharna after the government assured him of action. [caption id=“attachment_3707543” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] Surendra Singh, MLA from Bairia constituency in Ballia, said he decided to call off the protest, after he got a phone call from Deputy Chief Minister Maurya late last night. He said, “Yesterday when a person was bringing a tractor full of sand here, he was stopped by one Sub-Inspector Virendra Yadav, who demanded Rs 2,000 from the person.” But when he refused to give him the money, the sub-inspector beat him up, snatched Rs 500 and mobile phone from him, Singh alleged. The MLA along with his supporters on Saturday staged a dharna outside Dokati police station in Ballia. Meanwhile, superintendent of Police Sujata Singh on Sunday ordered a probe into the incident. “If the need arises to register a case after the probe is complete, it will be done,” she said.