The body was found stuffed in a sack near the Kanjara River bridge in Karhal

Body of UP Dalit woman found in sack, family claims she was killed for backing BJP

Karhal Dalit Woman Murder: The family of the woman claimed that she was raped before being killed. They also alleged political motives behind the crime in Karhal, which went to polls on Wednesday.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Victim's family alleges woman was raped before being killed
  • Family claims woman expressed her intention to vote for BJP
  • Polls being held in Karhal, a Samajwadi Party stronghold, today

A young Dalit woman's naked body was found stuffed in a sack near the Kanjara River bridge in Uttar Pradesh's Karhal. The family of the woman has accused a person named Prashant Yadav for her murder, alleging political motives behind the crime. Police said Prashant and another person have been arrested.

The victim's family has also alleged that the woman was raped before being killed. The family claimed that the woman expressed her intention to vote for the BJP in the Karhal bypolls, which enraged Prashant. Prashant allegedly threatened the woman with dire consequences if she did not vote for the Samajwadi Party.

According to the family, threats were issued on November 19. Eyewitnesses said two suspects took the woman away on a bike on November 19. On Wednesday, her body was found in a sack.

Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. The woman's body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

Senior police officer Vinod Kumar said the 23-year-old woman went missing from Karhal last night. "Her dead body was found this morning. Her father filed a case against two people; one is Prashant Yadav and the other is Mohan Katheria. Both have been arrested," Kumar said.

Karhal, which falls in the Mainpuri district, went to the polls on Wednesday after the seat was vacated due to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav contesting the Lok Sabha election. Considered a Samajwadi Party stronghold since 1993, the party has fielded Akhilesh Yadav's nephew Tej Pratap Yadav from the seat.

Meanwhile, the BJP has nominated Anujesh Yadav, uncle-in-law of Tej Pratap Yadav, from the seat that has turned out to be a prestige battle for the two parties.

In the constituency, Yadavs comprise about 1.4 lakh while Dalits and Muslims make up around 40,000 and 15,000 voters respectively.