Lucknow: A DSP was killed by a mob in Pratapgarh where he had rushed after a village head was shot dead over a land dispute, with the slain officer's wife on Sunday alleging hand of controversial UP Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh 'Raja Bhaiya'.
DSP Zia-ul-Haq suffered gunshots and succumbed to wounds late last night, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arun Kumar told a news agency.
In a complaint to police, the DSP's wife Pravin Azad said, "On the directions of Raja Bhaiya, Nagar Panchayat chairman Gulshan Yadav, minister's representative Hari Om Srivastava, his driver Rohit Singh and supporter Guddu Singh first assaulted my husband with sticks and rods and later shot him dead."
She filed the complaint in Kunda police station this evening, where her husband was posted.
When contacted, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Raja Bhaiya told a news agency, "Anyone who is undergoing mental trauma could be misguided. This is an unfortunate incident...The accusation is being levelled with malafide intention. Truth will prevail in the investigation.
Haq, posted as Circle Officer at Kunda town, had rushed to Balipur village after getting information about the murder of the village head yesterday.
Gram Pradhan Nanhe Yadav was shot dead by unidentified men last evening in the village, about 160 kms from here.
When the police officer reached the village on the outskirts of Kunda, he was attacked by some men, police said.
Haq and the village head's brother Suresh received serious injuries in the attack and both died later, police said.
Several policemen and villagers were also injured in the clash.
The officer's wife also alleged, "My husband was held captive there and was told that they won't let him return alive. The accused used to threaten him of dire consequences ever since his posting there and he (Haq) used to tell this to me frequently."
In front of reporters in Kunda, the ADG told the DSP's wife, "You give me a complaint and its copy to the police station. Irrespective of the status of the accused, whether he is Raja Bhaiya or anyone else, stern action will be taken against guilty."
Even as the UP government warned of action against those involved in the killing, opposition parties slammed the SP government over the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state.
BSP, BJP and Congress attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government alleging that law and order situation has collapsed as the incident took place in an area represented by a cabinet minister (Raghuraj Pratap Singh).
BJP state chief Laxmi Kant Bajpai while condemning the incident alleged that there was complete anarchy in the state.
He demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the incident.
BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya alleged that the situation has deteriorated so much that even police officers were being killed in the state.
PCC chief Nirmal Khattri alleged that during the SP rule even those entrusted with the task of providing security to people were not safe.
He alleged that yesterday's incident proved the government has lost control over administration and there was 'jungle raj' in the state.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 03, 2013, 21:21