Dacoits of Uttar Pradesh celebrated a special election victory on Tuesday. Vir Singh, son of dreaded dacoit of Bundelkhand dacoit Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua, had been declared chairman of the Chitrakoot zilla panchayat.
Not that there had been any doubt about the poll verdict. With his father wanted in more than 200 cases of kidnapping, murder and extortion in two states and a Rs 2.5 lakh reward on his head, it was hardly surprising that no one dared to oppose the son at the hustings. Lending further weight to Singh's candidature were members of other gangs including Dr Ambika Patel alias 'Thokia'.
Around 30,000 people, including bureaucrats and local politicians, took part in the feast organized by Vir Singh's family.
The celebration put in shade even the ruling Samajwadi Party's performance in the local polls in which it won around 50 seats.