Former bandit joins Samajwadi Party

LUCKNOW: Former woman bandit Seema Parihar, who had allegedly killed 70 people and abducted over 200 before surrendering to the police a few years ago, on Friday joined the Samajwadi Party at a function in Uttar Pradesh.

Parihar joined the Samajwadi Party in Auraiya district during a meeting presided over by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Mulayam Singh was in the district today, and granted formal membership to Parihar," Auraiya district party president Ram Babu Yadav said.

Parihar, who surrendered before Kanpur police in 2003, was facing 29 criminal cases. She has been acquitted in 15 cases.

She is currently out on bail in 14 other cases. She was heading the Lalaram gang of bandits when she surrendered. Parihar took over the gang leadership after Lalaram was killed in a police encounter.

Parihar has also allegedly committed over two dozen robberies before she gave herself up to the police.