Tue Sep 23 16:56:20 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A Congress delegation planning to visit families affected by fatal leopard attacks in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, was placed under house arrest by the police. State Congress President Ajay Rai condemned the action, calling it a sign of the government’s “insensitivity and dictatorship” aimed at silencing the opposition. Despite the restrictions, one delegation member reached out to the victims’ families. The Bijnor police did not respond to requests for comment.
**News Article:**
**Congress Delegation Detained While Probing Leopard Attacks in Uttar Pradesh**
**Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – September 23, 2025** – A Congress delegation attempting to investigate recent fatal leopard attacks in Bijnor district was placed under house arrest by local police on Tuesday. The delegation, scheduled to meet with families of victims, was reportedly prevented from traveling by authorities, sparking outrage from the Congress party.
State U.P. Congress President Ajay Rai condemned the police action, accusing the state government of attempting to suppress opposition voices and hide its own failures in addressing the escalating man-animal conflict.
“The government, whose failures and insensitivity have already been exposed to the public, became so alarmed that it used its police force to place the delegation members under house arrest,” Rai stated. “This move reflects authoritarianism and proves that it lacks the courage to listen to the suffering of the people and face the truth.”
The delegation included prominent Congress leaders such as former Minister Haji Ikram Qureshi, district president Henrietta, city president Humayun Baig, and former district president Sherbaz Pathan.
Despite the police restrictions, one member of the delegation, identified as Dr. Aazad Beg, managed to reach the affected villages and communicate with the victims’ families. Rai emphasized the alarming nature of the situation and the government’s perceived inaction.
The Hindu attempted to contact the Bijnor police for comment on the matter but received no response. The incident has intensified political tensions in Uttar Pradesh, with the Congress party vowing to continue advocating for the affected families and demanding accountability from the government.