Free-for-all overshadows Phoolan rites

By Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI, AUG. 6. It was trouble all the way at the ``terahvi'' -- 13th day -- ceremony of the slain Samajwadi Party MP, Phoolan Devi, climaxing in a fierce clash between supporters of her husband, Umed Singh, and her sister, Munni Devi, at 44 Ashoka Road here today.

A free-for-all broke out between the two groups with Munni Devi, who had earlier accused Umed Singh of being directly involved in the murder conspiracy, refusing to allow him to perform the rites. Munni and her relatives allegedly threw away ``puja'' material brought in by Umed Singh when he tried to sit near the ``havan kund''. He was asked to perform the rites elsewhere.

Not one to give in easily, Umed Singh started looking for a place inside the premises to make another ``havan kund''. He was again obstructed. The dispute was resolved only after the police intervened and other relatives persuaded Munni to allow Umed Singh to perform the rites. It was then decided that the rites would be performed by male members of both sides.

Even as the pundits were chanting mantras, several senior political leaders put in an appearance to pay their respects to Phoolan Devi. They included the Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Mr. Saheb Singh Verma, and Samajwadi Party leader, Mr. Janeswar Mishra.

The Samajwadi Party general secretary and a ``brother-figure'' to Munni, Mr. Amar Singh, showed up when the ceremony was almost over. He had a long meeting with Munni and her family from which Umed Singh was kept out.

Talking to mediapersons later, Mr. Amar Singh along with Munni refuted charges that some Samajwadi leaders were involved in the Phoolan murder conspiracy. Mr. Amar Singh said Phoolan's family was yet to recover from the shock and this was not the occasion to discuss who be given the party ticket to contest the ensuing by-election from Mirzapur, the seat Phoolan Devi represented in Parliament.

Soon after Mr. Amar Singh left the premises, another altercation broke out over the ``pagri'' ceremony. While supporters of Umed Singh, who were performing the ceremony, shouted slogans in his support, agitated supporters of Munni Devi alleged that a ``pagri'' ceremony had no significance on a woman's death and that it was a political stunt.

They sought police help to stop the ceremony. But by the time the cops could act, Munni's supporters rushed in and a scuffle ensued until extra force was called in to defuse the situation.

Later in the afternoon, the Samajwadi Party president, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, put in an appearance.

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