Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has announced plans to honor Tohida Begum, a 50-year-old woman from Muzaffarnagar, for her fearless stand against alleged police intimidation during the recent Uttar Pradesh by-election.

A viral video captured Tohida confronting a police inspector, who was reportedly armed and attempting to prevent her and other women from casting their votes at the Kakrauli polling booth in the Meerapur Assembly constituency. Despite the threats, she stood firm, advocating for her and others' voting rights.

Former Muzaffarnagar MP Kadir Rana and SP district president Ziya Chaudhary visited Tohida at her residence on Friday to commend her bravery. “She symbolizes the spirit of democracy. Her courage in the face of such threats is inspiring,” said Rana, adding that Akhilesh Yadav would soon host an event to recognize her efforts.

Tohida alleged that police officers, some armed with batons and stones, intimidated voters. “When I tried to proceed with other women, the inspector threatened to shoot us. Sadly, we couldn’t cast our votes, but the incident was captured on video, revealing the truth,” she said.

Muzaffarnagar SSP Abhishek Singh countered these claims, stating that the video showed only a partial account. He alleged that a mob had attacked the police, forcing the officer to act in self-defense. The police have since filed cases against 28 identified and 120 unidentified individuals for violence near the Kisan Inter College polling station.