Uttar Pradesh: A farmer was arrested for allegedly stealing water from Urmil dam in Mahoba of Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh. The region is facing drought for third year in a row.

The police said 55-year-old HiraLal Yadav damaged a valve of the Urmil Dam and directed water towards his farmland using a small canal.

The farmer’s family claims that the valve was already broken and Hiralal is being falsely implicated. They also said that the water department officials were framing him to hide their own mistakes.

Speaking to mediapersons, Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police of Mahoba said, “Hiralal damaged a valve of a water pipeline and stored water in a pit, using it for agriculture. This complaint was filed by Joint engineer of Mahoba Jal Sansthan and so we have booked him user section 430, 353 and damaging government property.”

Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sought help in tackling drought in the state.