Murder of Smriti Irani aide in Amethi: Three suspects arrested, two absconding

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the UP DGP to take “severe” and “effective” action and arrest the culprits within 12 hours.

“As many as seven persons were taken into custody and they were interrogated. Among those, there were three who were linked with the incident,” the DGP said.

The family members of 50-year-old, a former pradhan of the village, alleged the hand of locals affiliated to the Congress who had an old enmity with Singh.

Superintendent of Police, Amethi, Rajesh Kumar had said prima facie the murder appeared to be the fallout of an old dispute between Singh and some local residents.

Irani, who rushed to the village along with other BJP leaders and helped carry Singh’s body for the last rites, said he was killed so that Amethi could be “terrorised, disintegrated and made to bow down”. She promised action against “the person who pulled the trigger” as well as “the one who ordered the killing”.

While asking party workers to “exercise restraint”, Irani questioned Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s remark after she had defeated him from Amethi. “On (May) 23, I was given a message that ‘take care of Amethi with love’. To the person who gave me the message, I would like to say that I have received the message loud and clear,” she said.

Gandhi had said, “I would like that Smriti Iraniji takes care of Amethi with love and I hope that she will reward the trust that Amethi’s people have reposed in her.”