BSP candidate from Ayodhya booked for rape

FAIZABAD(INDIA): Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Ayodhya seat, Bazmi Siddiqui and his six aides were today booked by the police for allegedly raping a woman.nnFive of his accused associates have been arrested, the police said, even as Siddiqui claimed the case was a political conspiracy against him.nnThe complainant has alleged that Siddiqui and his men forcibly entered her house in Purani Sabzi Mandi locality of Faizabad city under Kotwali police station area late last night.nnThey allegedly beat up the woman and her family members and then took turns to rape her, police said.nnFaizabad SSP Anant Dev told PTI that five of the accused men have been arrested and police teams were conducting raids to locate and arrest Siddiqui and one of his aides.nnWhen contacted, Siddiqui told PTI over phone, “There is a BSP wave in the ongoing elections and I am winning. So the opposition parties are conspiring against me.”nnThe complainant has alleged that Siddiqi had raped her three months ago also but the local police “managed” to save him.nnA physically-challenged relative of the woman said he was also badly beaten up when he opposed Siddiqui and his men.nnPolice said Siddiqi has several cases of crimes registered against him in Faizabad and Lucknow.nnSiddiqi made news during the ongoing UP assembly election after media reported him as first Muslim candidate fielded by BSP on Ayodhya seat.nnSource: Press Trust of India