Two bikers killed in collision with car linked to BJP MLA

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): Two men were killed when a "speeding" car linked to a BJP MLA hit their motorcycle in a head-on collision here, police said on Monday.

The Scorpio SUV involved in the collision on the Pilibhit-Basti highway near Pangi Khurd village on Sunday night had "vidhayak" (legislator) written on it, police said.

Police said the car belonged to a family member of two-time Lakhimpur BJP MLA Yogesh Verma, who was not travelling in the vehicle.

Car driver Munendra, who had fled after the accident but later arrested, was produced in a court here on Monday, which granted him bail, sources said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the "BJP's double-engine powered vehicle" continues to crush people, in a possible reference to the mowing down of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri by a car allegedly carrying BJP workers.

On Monday, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish, who was arrested after the death of four protesting farmers and a journalist on October 3.

Police identified the victims in Sunday's accident as Ravi (22) and his relative Sumit (25), both residents of Kiratpur village. They were returning home from neighbouring Ramapur village when the accident took place near a petrol pump on Sunday night.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Arun Kumar Singh said, "Two men were killed in the collision between their bike and a Scorpio, reportedly owned by the MLA's family member.

Sources said the vehicle is registered in the name of the MLA's wife. The MLA had given details of the car in his election affidavit. "An FIR in this connection has been lodged with Kotwali police station while the errant driver has been arrested,"

the ASP added.