Maya seeks central rule in UP after girls' rape, murder

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Friday demanded imposition of president's rule in Uttar Pradesh following the rape and murder of two sisters in a Budaun village Thursday.

Addressing a press conference here, the former chief minister said the law and order machinery in the state had collapsed and demanded immediate intervention from the BJP-led central government.

The Dalit leader said criminals were having a free run in the state and the Samajwadi Party (SP) government had no control over the police machinery.

"The situation in the state is very dangerous and before it turns worse, the central government should step in and dismiss the Akhilesh Yadav-led government," she added.

Urging Governor B.L. Joshi to send a report to the Centre recommending president's rule in UP, Mayawati said time has come to rid the people of the state of the SP government.

She also demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

Two sisters were found hanging from a tree in Budaun Thursday. The family of the deceased alleged that local musclemen raped and then killed the girls.

The family also said the police had refused to come to their aid when they sought their help in tracing the missing girls.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday spoke to Akhilesh Yadav in which the latter apprised the central minister, also an MP from Lucknow, that action had been initiated against the culprits and one of the accused was arrested.

The chief minister has since recommended that the case be tried by a fast-track court. A detailed report has also been sent to the ministry of home affairs.