Ex-Cop, Yogi Adityanath's Challenger, Says Stopped From Visiting UP Town

Amitabh Thakur's family had announced he would be contesting the next year's UP Assembly polls against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, terming it a fight for principles.

Former Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, who was given premature retirement, on Saturday claimed that he was stopped by police from going to Gorakhpur, citing a threat to his life. Mr Thakur was given compulsory retirement on March 23 in "public interest" as he was found "unfit" for the remaining tenure of his service. Earlier, Mr Thakur's family had announced that he would be contesting the next year's state Assembly polls against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, terming it a fight for principles. The Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat was represented by Yogi Adityanath before becoming the chief minister of the state.