SP leaders put under house arrest ahead of protest over GIDA pollution

Ahead of the Samajwadi Party's proposed protest against pollution in the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA), the district administration put several party leaders under house arrest, officials said on Wednesday here.

Police teams reached the residences of SP leaders and barred them from stepping out on Tuesday night, they said.

Those placed under house arrest are SP leader 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.

District president Brajesh Gautam was also detained briefly before being allowed to leave for a programme in Lucknow.

The Samajwadi Party had announced a demonstration and memorandum submission against various issues, including alleged pollution from factories in the GIDA area, falling groundwater levels and labour-related matter.

The party leaders 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.

District party general secretary 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 (we are not those who get afraid, we are those who fight).''

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)