UP cop killing: Raja Bhaiya booked, his aides arrested

Controversial Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias `Raja Bhaiya` has been booked for an alleged conspiracy to kill DSP Zia-ul-Haque in Pratapgarh district.

Zeenews Bureau

Pratapgarh: Controversial Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias `Raja Bhaiya` and seven of his associates have been booked for an alleged conspiracy to kill Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haque in Pratapgarh district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul Haq was killed with two others in Balipur village in Pratapgarh district on Saturday night, during violence that followed the murder of the village head Nanhe Yadav. The case has brought attention to grim law-and-order situation in the state. Zia-ul Haq`s family had refused to allow his funeral until a case was registered against the controversial minister. The DSP’s wife, Parveen Azad, had filed a complaint, accusing Raja Bhaiya and his men of killing her husband. In the complaint, Pravin 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." "My husband (Zia-ul Haq) had told me that he was working on a very sensitive case that involved politically powerful people," Parveen had told investigators. She filed the complaint in Kunda police station on Sunday evening, where her husband was posted. Raja Bhaiya was charged with conspiracy to kill the uniformed official, who was first attacked by an angry mob and then shot in the leg and chest from a point blank range, an official said. The minister`s close associates who have been booked in the case include panchayat head Gulshan Yadav and driver Rohit Singh. They have been charged with murder. "Heavy police force... has been deployed in the area and no untoward incident has been reported," a senior official said. "The situation in the village remained tense but under control on Monday morning," police officials told a news agency. 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.” "A FIR has been registered under the name of Raja Bhaiya. Registering an FIR clearly shows how seriously we are looking into the matter. If a stay from the court is not taken, he may even be arrested," said Samajwadi Party`s spokesperson Ram Ashrey Kushwaha has been quoted as saying by a news channel. Haq, posted as Circle Officer at Kunda town, had rushed to Balipur village after getting information about the murder of the village head on Saturday. 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. 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. (With Agency inputs)