LUCKNOW/GORAKHPUR, Aug. 13 -- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday sharpened the opposition's attack on the UP government over the brutal murder of power department contractor Shiv Kumar Tiwari in Gorakhpur on August 8, questioning how criminals could operate with such impunity in CM Yogi Adityanath's home district.

Condemning the killing, Yadav questioned as to who was providing patronage to "such hardened criminals". He said the brazenness with which the crime was committed raised serious questions over the state's law and order.

His remarks came as Gorakhpur police initiated the process of invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against the eight arrested accused in the case amid mounting public anger over a widely ...