Aide shot dead, Smriti Irani says motive was to ‘terrorise, disintegrate’ Amethi

Singh, who had campaigned for Irani in Amethi, was shot by unidentified assailants while sleeping outside his house at Barauli village, Additional Superintendent of Police, Amethi, Daya Ram said.

#WATCH BJP MP from Amethi, Smriti Irani lends a shoulder to mortal remains of Surendra Singh, ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi, who was shot dead last night. pic.twitter.com/jQWV9s2ZwY

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2019

The attackers, he said, fled from the scene after Singh’s family members came out hearing the gunshots. Singh was rushed to a nearby hospital and from there he was referred to Lucknow where he died during treatment, Daya Ram added.

After hearing the news of Singh’s death, Irani left for Amethi and visited the victim’s family and took part in the funeral procession. Irani along with state minister Mohsin Raza was seen carrying Singh’s body amidst chanting of slogans by villagers.

“I’ve taken an oath before Surendra Singh ji’s family, the one who fired and the one who ordered it, even if I have to go SC to get the culprits a death sentence, we will knock the doors of the court,” said Irani while talking to media after Singh was laid to rest.

After hearing the news of Singh’s death, Irani left for Amethi and visited the victim’s family. (Express photo)

Local BJP leaders suspect the murder was politically motivated. Director General of Police Om Prakash Singh said seven people had been taken into custody and they were being interrogated.

BJP’s Amethi district president, Durgesh Tripathi said that Singh was an old party worker who had actively participated in Smriti Irani’s Lok Sabha campaign. He added that Singh had also delivered speeches at few places during the campaign.

Surendra Singh is survived by his wife Roopmani and three children. (Express photo)

Singh is survived by his wife Roopmani and three children, village head Ram Prakash said. “Smriti Irani met me and assured she will take care of my children like her own and give us protection. It was a political fight, he helped didi (Irani) to win. There are many Congress workers here,” ANI quoted Singh’s wife as saying.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the DGP to take effective action and report back to him, a senior official said, adding that the inspector general of Lucknow had been sent for monitoring the situation.

(With ENS inputs)