The torching of a Dalit youth alive in Hardoi provided canon fodder to opposition parties to corner the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati posted, “Burning of a Dalit youth over a love affair in Hardoi shows the cruelty in society and is highly condemnable. Government should ensure stringent punishment for the guilty so that such incidents do not recur.”
UP Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu also criticised the state government. “Dalit atrocities have increased in UP during the BJP rule and the government is doing nothing to counter it,” he said. 
Meanwhile, three persons including a girl, were arrested in connection with the killing of the Dalit youth.
SP (East), Hardoi, K Gyananjay Singh said, “Abhishek alias Monu was in a relationship with a girl living in Bhadaicha village. The boy was found in a compromising state in the girl’s house. Monu’s relatives filed a complaint and levelled charges that five people set him ablaze. We have registered the FIR. Three people have been arrested and two are absconding.”
The incident took place on September 15 when the girl called Abhishek to her residence after which he was allegedly set ablaze.
Two other accused named in the FIR are from the girl’s village.
“Abhishek was admitted in Hardoi district hospital but was referred to KGMU Trauma Centre in Lucknow but he died on the way,” the SP (East) said.
Police sources said that six years back, the boy had eloped with the girl but later both returned to their respective houses in the village.