In Uttar Pradesh police has lodged FIR against 17 persons in Sambhal district for burning an effigy of the Election Commission. Two persons are named and 15 others are unidentified in the FIR.

Quoting police sources AIR correspondent reports that FIR has been lodged at Kotwali police station in Sambhal against the accused. They were protesting against the Commissio's decision to ban rallies by Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan in the state.

Our correspondent reports that six FIRs have been lodged against Azam Khan for his hate speeches in Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal and Rampur districts.

The Election Commission on April 11 had banned Khan and BJP leader Amit Shah from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and asked the authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against him.

Meanwhile the Samajwadi Party has urged the Commission to remove its ban on Azam Khan. Party has sent a letter to the Commission in this regard. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has also raised the issue in his election rallies reiterating his demand for removal of ban.