The Samajwadi Party on Friday assured the family of the Dalit couple that was axed to death by a shopkeeper in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district that justice would delivered at the earliest. The party leadership condemned the killing and asked the Bahujan Samaj Party not to politicise the issue, reported ANI.

Party leader Gaurav Bhatia said, “It is most unfortunate that a person is killed for a small amount of money [the altercation was reportedly over a loan of Rs 15]. The investigation will be conducted at great speed to ensure that justice is not delayed.” Keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly election, Bhatia urged BSP leaders not to indulge in "petty politics" over peoples' deaths. Mainpuri also happens to be SP chief Mulayam Yadav's constituency.

The labourer couple was hacked to death after they allegedly had a heated argument with local shopkeeper Ashok Mishra on Thursday morning. According to reports, Mishra, who belongs to an upper caste, attacked Bharat Nat, 48, and his wife Mamta, 45, with an axe after the couple refused to pay back the Rs 15 that they had borrowed from him.

The Mainpuri Police arrested the accused immediately. Mainpuri District Magistrate Pramod Gupta said stringent action will be taken against him.