In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling BSP has suspended its MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwiwedi for his alleged involvement in rape of a 17-year-old dalit girl. State Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters in Lucknow that BSP chief and Chief Minister Mayawati has suspended Banda MLA till the CB-CID submits its report to the state government. Meanwhile, the girl's brother Santu, who met her in the jail, told reporters in Banda that police are pressurising her to withdraw the case. National Commission for Scheduled Caste has sought a report from the UP government on the rape and arrest of the girl.