The protests erupted after a union leader died allegedly after few sanitation workers manhandled him for stopping them from taking pictures of a woman defecating out in the open near Pratapgarh town of Uttar Pradesh.
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The incident occurred when a local union leader and CPI(M) worker, Zafar Khan(55), tried to stop sanitation workers from clicking pictures of a woman who went to relieve herself out in the open. The 7 member sanitation team were assigned under Swachh Bharat Mission to create awareness through clicking pictures of open defecation.
The argument broke out between Zafar and Municipal Corporation workers about the sanitation arrangements of the village. Zafar tried to convince the workers that the toilets made by the government in the village are ill maintained and the woman has no other option. Eventually, a scuffle broke out between Zafar and workers during which Zafar Khan suffered a sudden heart stroke and died, while police are yet to ascertain the cause of the death. The post-mortem will confirm the reason of the death, according to the reports.
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Villagers protested against the incident and demanding immediate action they blocked the highway. Police detained all the seven accused. the municipal council chairman has announced ex-gratia of 4 lakh to the victim’s family.