In a tragic incident, a 23-year-old Dalit woman’s body was found in a sack in Uttar Pradesh’s Karhal constituency this morning. The incident has sparked a political storm after her family alleged that a local Samajwadi Party worker had been pressuring her against voting for BJP in the bypolls being held today.

The Police said Prashant Yadav and Mohan Katheria have been arrested in a case registered on a complaint by the woman’s father. Manipuri district police chief Vinod Kumar said that the parents of the woman have alleged the accused killed her because she wanted to vote for the BJP.

The victim’s father also said that Prashant Yadav came to their home three days back and asked her which party she would vote for. The victim replied that she would vote for lotus, BJP’s symbol, because her family got a home under the PM Awas Yojana. Prashant Yadav then threatened her and asked her to vote for cycle, the Samajwadi Party’s election symbol, the woman’s father alleged.

Following, the BJP has launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party over the woman’s death. Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said that at Karhal in Mainpuri district, Samajwadi Party’s Prashant Yadav and his aides brutally murdered a Dalit daughter only because she refused to vote for cycle.

Samajwadi Party’s Karhal candidate Tej Pratap Yadav said there must be a thorough probe and the guilty must face tough punishment. Without referring to the murder, the party’s handle on ‘X’ put up a post, alleging that police were intimidating voters in the name of patrolling. Meanwhile, the senior party leaders are yet to respond to the incident.

Notably, the allegations surrounding the woman’s death come amid a massive blame game between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Samajwadi Party as nine Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh vote in today’s bypolls. These seats are Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki. These seats were vacated after the sitting MLAs were elected to Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav represented Karhal in the Assembly before being elected to Lok Sabha as Kannauj MP.

Despite all the high-voltage campaign, Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded a 45.53 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm. Mumbai, the most prominent city of the state and India’s financial capital, however, recorded the lowest at 39.34 per cent. The polling is underway in all 288 Assembly seats. Voting is to conclude at 6 pm.

The voting in all 288 Assembly seats kicked off at 7 am on Wednesday, with several prominent leaders from across party lines, businessmen, actors and others lined up to perform their duties as a citizen.

Earlier today, a flying squad of the Election Commission seized Rs 60 lakh in the Rajura constituency in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, where Assembly polls are underway, according to reports.

Poll officials conducted a raid at a house in Gadchandur, confiscating cash and campaign materials. In total, 17 candidates are contesting in the Rajura Assembly constituency, including Deorao Bhongle from the BJP and Subhash Dhote, the Congress nominee.

Meanwhile, a heated argument broke out between Shiv Sena candidate Suhas Kande and independent nominee Sameer Bhujbal at a polling center in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Wednesday.

The disagreement was sparked when Bhujbal raised objections regarding the authenticity of certain voters in the Nandgaon Assembly constituency, leading to an exchange of heated words between the two candidates and their supporters.

Kande and Bhujbal, as well as their supporters, had a heated exchange of words at a polling centre in the Nandgaon Assembly constituency after the independent candidate raised objections over the authenticity of some voters in the segment.

On altercation between Kande and Bhujbal, Special IGP (Nashik) Dattatray Karale said: “Some people had gathered near a college located on Manmad-Nandgaon road in Nandgaon Assembly constituency. There was a misunderstanding that people from outside were brought there to vote. We are taking action and will lodge a case after verifying the facts of this incident. The situation is normal and the election process is underway there.”

At least five trucks were torched allegedly by Maoists in Latehar district, hours before the commencement of the second and final phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday.

According to a senior police officer, the incident took place in Laat forest under the jurisdiction of Herhanj Police Station around 1.30 am.

Trucks used for coal transportation at the Tubed coal project in Latehar were set on fire by members of the banned Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), a splinter group of Maoists.

According to Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav, the trucks were returning after dumping coal when the incident occurred. An investigation has been launched, and raids are being conducted to apprehend those responsible.

The Maoists left a pamphlet at the scene, threatening to halt the loading and transportation activities at the Tubed coal project until negotiations are held with their group.

Truck drivers said that around 12 Maoists entered the forest and began firing indiscriminately. “The truck drivers were instructed to exit their vehicles, and several rounds of bullets were fired before the trucks were set ablaze,” an officer stated.

On the same day, voting is taking place for 38 Assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Jharkhand elections, under tight security measures. Polling kicked off at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue until 5 PM. Latehar participated in the first phase of elections held on November 13.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made an appeal to all the voters going to vote in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections to cast record votes to form a government that cares about the bread, daughter and land of Jharkhand.

“Today, cast a historic vote for the departure of infiltrators and a corruption-free system. Vote for the golden future of the youth and prosperity of all the people of Jharkhand including Santhal Pargana,” he said in a post on X.

Taking to X, Chief Minister Hemant Soren also said: “The second and final phase of the great festival of democracy is being organised in Jharkhand. Today voting is being held on 38 Assembly seats in the second phase of Jharkhand elections. In the first phase of voting, people of 43 Assembly constituencies enthusiastically exercised their franchise. All sections voted for their rights and a strong Jharkhand. Those who were conspiring against Jharkhand were given a befitting reply.”

“Today’s phase will play an important role in the creation of ‘Sona Jharkhand’. To save Jharkhand from breaking up, we must unite and vote in large numbers. Today again, voters must exercise their franchise with the same enthusiasm and zeal. On this important occasion, an appeal is made to all of you to reach your booth centres in large numbers and exercise your right to vote and inspire everyone else too. Many best wishes and greetings to all the voters, polling officials, and soldiers of JMM and INDIA alliance who are participating in the voting today,” he added.