scorecardresearch
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
Advertisement

Caught on camera: SP leader, son shot dead in Sambhal

The Samajwadi Party has held the ruling BJP government responsible for the murder of its leader.

In the 2 minute 30 second long video that was shot during the incident, two men with rifles are seen arguing with a group of men. Several others can be seen standing alongside a mud road. (Source: Twitter/@samajwadiparty)

A Samajwadi Party leader and his son were shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Tuesday morning, allegedly after a dispute with a few villagers over the construction of a road. A video of the two being gunned down has also emerged.

A Samajwadi Party leader and his son were shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Tuesday, allegedly after a dispute with some villagers over the construction of a road. A video of the two being gunned down has also emerged.

According to Additional SP, Sambhal, Alok Kumar Jayswal, Chhote Lal Diwakar (50) and his son Sunil Kumar (28) were shot over a dispute regarding a road being constructed under MGNREGS in Shamsoi village. Diwakar’s wife is the village pradhan.

Advertisement

Two of the accused — Jitendra Sharma and Sharmendra Sharma -– have been arrested while police are looking for Ramendra, Upendra, Gyandendra and Gajendra Singh, local residents who have been named in the FIR.

“We registered an FIR against identified and unidentified persons under sections of IPC including 302 (murder). They are locals. The dispute was about the road construction in that area. The accused shot at the two victims and escaped. We have formed teams to arrest them,” Jayswal said.

Festive offer

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has also been invoked. The victims belong to the Dalit community, while the accused are Brahmins. The families reportedly had a rivalry over the panchayat elections.

Diwakar’s other son Sachin lodged a complaint which read, “My mother Kamlesh Devi is the current village head. The work done for development in the village was being overseen by my father. The family of Ramendra Sharma, who is the former village head, had an issue with the development work being undertaken in the village and had lodged a case under false charges against my father and brother which is being heard in court.”

Advertisement

Kamlesh Devi defeated Ramendra Sharma in 2015 panchayat elections. Panchayat elections are again scheduled in UP this year.

In the 2 minute 30 second video that was shot during the incident, two men with rifles are seen arguing with some men. Several others can be seen standing alongside a mud road. According to the police, the duo seen carrying rifles are a father-son duo from the area. Towards the end of the video, the duo is seen retreating. They then turn around and shoot at Diwakar and his son.

According to police officials, the dispute arose after the accused alleged that the road was infringing on their land. “The accused had asked Diwakar to stop work and look for an alternative route. Diwakar did not agree as work had already been allotted,” said a police official.

In 2017, Diwakar got a Samajwadi Party ticket to contest Assembly elections from Chandausi. He eventually did not contest as the seat went to the Congress after the two parties tied up.

Advertisement

Condemning the murders, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed anger over the incident. “The ruling party has been committing atrocities on SP leaders for the past three years. During the lockdown, there has been no check on crimes in the state. Innocent people are being murdered every day in the state under the BJP government… Before this incident, SP leaders were killed in Azamgarh and Jaunpur,” said a statement issued by the party quoting Akhilesh.

With ENS Lucknow

First uploaded on: 19-05-2020 at 15:22 IST
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
close