Murder of student leader: BSP MLA

The role of a BSP MLA has come under scanner in the murder of Pradeep Singh,a former students union leader of Gorakhpur University,who was shot dead at his residence in Shahpur area on August 8.

THE role of a BSP MLA has come under scanner in the murder of Pradeep Singh,a former students union leader of Gorakhpur University,who was shot dead at his residence in Shahpur area on August 8.

The victim’s family,witnesses and an arrested man have reportedly told the police that Deo Narayan Singh alias G M Singh,BSP MLA from Paniyara constituency in Maharajganj,had got Pradeep killed because he believed that the former student leader was instrumental in the defeat of his wife in the recent municipal elections. Inspector Kamal Yadav,who is the investigating officer,said they would soon write to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker,giving details of the MLA’s involvement in the crime.

However,the MLA denied he had any role in the murder and said that the police had never contacted him. “Let the police investigate,but it would be wrong if they make me accused on the basis of a statement given by the accused. The police should collect evidence and conduct fair investigation,” he said.

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Some armed men had forced entry into Pradeep’s house and fired at him,killing him on the spot. He suffered 10 bullet wounds and the assailants had fired more than 25 rounds before escaping. The IO said that Rahul Yadav,who had been arrested in this connection,and Pradeep’s private guard Amit Shukla had named the MLA. Rahul is an MA student of Gorakhpur University and was an inmate of Vivekanand Hostel. The IO,however,clarified that Shukla was not present at the time of Pradeep’s murder.

A team of Gorakhpur police will soon leave to get two men involved in the murder who are lodged in a jail in Bihar. Ajeet Singh and Vishwajeet Singh alias Vishai Singh,both of whom have a criminal background,were arrested on Saturday for attacking a police team,the IO said.

He said that Rahul,whom they arrested after a tip-off and surveillance,named Vishwajeet and Ajeet and some other persons.

The IO said that the MLA developed enmity with Pradeep during the municipal elections when Pradeep’s cousin Ram Pratap Singh contested from Sahjhanwa in Gorakhpur district against the MLA’s wife Sanju Singh. Pradeep,like the MLA,belonged to the Kurmi community. The police said the MLA asked Pradeep to tell his cousin to withdraw from the contest,but Pradeep turned down his request. The MLA’s wife lost the election by 350 votes to one Kamlesh. The MLA said while it is a fact that his wife and Pradeep’s cousin Ram Pratap contested the election,he did not believe that his wife lost because of Ram Pratap or Pradeep; there were many more persons in the fray. Pradeep,who had 10 criminal cases against him,had contested the students union election in 2006 for the post of president of Gorakhpur University Students Union,but lost.

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