Former SP MLA Irfan Solanki booked after clash at Kanpur goat market

KANPUR: Former Samajwadi Party MLA from Sisamau, Irfan Solanki, and his associates have been booked on charges of assault and intimidation following a clash at a temporary goat market at Halim Ground in Chamanganj, police said on Wednesday.The incident created tension in the area, with traders and local residents gathering at the market and raising slogans against the former MLA. Protesters also blocked the market gates for several hours, demanding strict police action, before officials intervened and brought the situation under control.Solanki, however, denied the allegations and claimed that he and his wife, Nasim Solanki, had visited the market on Tuesday after receiving complaints from traders. He alleged that some people assaulted the security personnel accompanying the MLA during the visit.Speaking to PTI, Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said two FIRs were registered after a clash broke out between two groups from the same community late Tuesday night.The FIR against Irfan Solanki and his associates was registered on the complaint of Wafa Abbas, who organises the annual goat market. In his complaint, Abbas alleged that Solanki arrived at the market along with supporters and security personnel, publicly abused him, assaulted him and threatened him after allegedly demanding money for allowing the market to operate.Abbas further alleged that he was slapped and beaten when he tried to speak to the former MLA. He also claimed that a bag containing Rs 2.70 lakh went missing during the scuffle.Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Irfan Solanki and unidentified persons under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.A counter-FIR was also lodged on the complaint of Azim Ahmad, a gunner attached to MLA Nasim Solanki.Ahmad alleged that he was assaulted by Abbas, Fahad, Imran and several unidentified men inside the market while carrying out security duties. He claimed his uniform was torn and that some people attempted to snatch his carbine and shut the market gate during the altercation.Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said gunner Azim Ahmad had been suspended for negligence after he allegedly left his assigned security position and entered the crowd.He added that CCTV footage from the market area was being examined, though Irfan Solanki had not appeared in any footage collected by the police so far.Irfan Solanki, the former SP MLA from Sisamau, is currently out on bail in an arson case after spending nearly 34 months in jail. He was released from Maharajganj jail on September 30 last year.Reacting to the allegations, Solanki denied any wrongdoing and maintained that he had gone to the goat market after receiving complaints regarding alleged illegal collections from traders and customers.“There had been repeated complaints of extortion in the goat market. I went there along with my wife, SP MLA Nasim Solanki. My security personnel was assaulted and there was even an attempt to snatch his carbine. The allegations against me are false,” he claimed.