SP office-bearers under house arrest ahead of protest

Gorakhpur: Ahead of Samajwadi Party’s proposed protest on Wednesday against pollution in GIDA industrial area and other local issues, district administration placed Kajal Nishad and several party members under house arrest late Tuesday night. Police teams reached the residences of SP members and stopped them from stepping out, the party’s district office informed.

Those confined included SP member Kajal Nishad, former district president Nagina Sahani, former MLA Yashpal Rawat, district general secretary Ramnath Yadav, district vice-president Girish Yadav and Sahjanwa assembly president Manish Commando. Party’s district president Brajesh Gautam was detained briefly before being allowed to leave for a programme in Lucknow.

SP had announced plan for demonstration and submission of memorandum against pollution from factories in the GIDA area, falling groundwater levels and labour-related issues. Party leaders had appealed through social media for workers and supporters to join the protest in large numbers.

After being stopped, SP leaders accused the administration of suppressing democratic rights. Ramnath Yadav alleged that smoke and ash from factories were affecting residents’ lives, while Kajal Nishad, in a post on X, said “Hum darne wale log nahin, ladne wale log hain”.