The body of a 22-year-old Dalit woman, who went missing two months ago from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao, has been found in a pit near an ashram constructed by a Samajwadi Party leader Fateh Bahadur Singh, who died four years ago. The grisly find could not have come at a worse time for Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is facing attacks from the BJP in the middle of the UP election according to ndtv.com.

The woman's family initially refused to cremate her for hours, demanding swift punishment action against the Samajwadi politician's son, who is the main suspect and under arrest.

They later agreed to carry out the last rites after the administration's assurances. The young woman's decomposing body was dug out from an empty piece of land near the ashram in the name of Fateh Bahadur Singh, who was a minister in the Samajwadi Party government of Akhilesh Yadav in 2012-17.

"The person who they are saying belongs to the Samajwadi Party died four years ago. Police should answer why they took so many days to act on the matter. We are with the victim's family and their demands should be fulfilled," Akhilesh Yadav told news agency ANI.

The family of the woman had accused Fateh Bahadur Singh's son Rajol Singh in a police complaint two months ago but says the police did not act. The woman went missing from her home on December 8, 2021. Right after the woman went missing on December 8, the mother alleged that her daughter had been kidnapped by former minister's son Rajol Singh.

The mother also expressed apprehension of an untoward incident with the local police as well as the senior officials demanding action against the accused Rajol. On January 24, the victim's mother also attempted self-immolation in front of the vehicle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow alleging laxity by the police to find out the whereabouts of her daughter.

The BJP accused Akhilesh Yadav of ignoring the woman's mother when she came in front of his convoy.

"Akhilesh Yadav, a Dalit daughter's body has been found from a Samajwadi Party leader' land. You didn't listen to the girl's mother when she was begging in front of your car. You are shielding your party leader. You will shield every crime of Samajwadi Party leaders. You will leave no stone unturned to help the accused," Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday also targeted the Samajwadi Party and demanded action. The recovery of the body of a Dalit girl in the SP leader's field in Unnao district is a very sad and serious matter. The family members were already suspecting the SP leader about her abduction and murder. The state government should immediately take strict legal action against the culprits to get justice for the victim's family," she tweeted.