According to police sources, investigators suspect that two other persons were present inside the car in which the victim, Indra Kant Tripathi, was found with a bullet injury on his neck on September 8. Tripathi succumbed to the injury on Sunday.
Written by Manish Sahu
| Mahoba |
September 16, 2020 2:15:07 am
Forensic team inspecting Mahoba businessman Indra Kant Tripathi’s car on Monday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)
UP POLICE suspect the role of an “insider” in the lethal attack on a 44-year-old businessman in Mahoba whose killing has led to a senior police officer being suspended and named in the FIR, The Indian Express has learnt.
According to police sources, investigators suspect that two other persons were present inside the car in which the victim, Indra Kant Tripathi, was found with a bullet injury on his neck on September 8. Tripathi succumbed to the injury on Sunday.
“We suspect that the two others were seated in the back, and one of them shot the victim who was in the driver’s seat. There was no sign of any scuffle or damage inside the car,” said a senior police officer. “We have recovered an empty shell from inside the car,” said IG (Chitrakoot Dham Range) K Satya Narayan. While no arrest has been made so far in the case, Narayan said that statements of 18 persons have been recorded.
Police are searching for a local gangster, Ashu Bhadoria, in the attack for which the then Mahoba SP Mani Lal Patidar is among those booked following allegations from Tripathi’s family about the officer’s role in the incident. Patidar had earlier been booked in a separate case of extortion filed by another businessman.
Police are, meanwhile, collecting details of those associated with the victim and verifying their location at the time of the attack. Police have also collected Call Detail Records of Tripathi’s phone to trace those who were in contact with him in the days leading up to the attack. “The statement of the victim could not be recorded because of his critical health. Notices are being sent to those booked in the case and those close to the victim to get their statements recorded,” an officer said.
However, Tripathi’s family members claimed that police are “trying to divert the investigation” by focusing on those close to them.
“Instead of questioning those named in the case, police are picking up people close to us for questioning. We suspect that they want to give a clean chit to the accused. Police have also been deployed on all roads leading to our residence. They are recording details of people visiting our house to create fear,” Tripathi’s elder brother, Ravi Kant, said.
Police took Tripathi’s business partners, Purushotam Soni and Bal Kishore, for questioning on Monday, and later released them.
In the FIR, Ravi Kant alleged that his brother, who was running a mining business, was killed after he refused to give money demanded by Patidar. Besides Patidar, Kabrai SHO Devendra Shukla and two local businessmen, Suresh Soni and Brahmdutt, were named in the FIR.
Shukla has also been placed under suspension. Suresh Soni is Tripathi’s neighbour, and his house was found locked on Tuesday.
Tripathi’s family demanded Rs 50 lakh as compensation from the government and free education for his children, Ananya (14) and Anshuman (9), till graduation.
Ana Carrasco won the the World Supersport 300 title in 2018
Ana Carrasco, the first woman to win a motorbike world title, has been ruled out for the remainder of the World Supersport 300 season following an injury during testing at Portugal's Estoril circuit.
The 23-year-old Spaniard suffered a double vertebrae fracture in the crash last week.
The Kawasaki Provec rider will miss the final three rounds of the season.
"This was definitely not the plan for this week," said Carrasco.
"My idea was to race at my home race this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and continue fighting for the World Championship of WorldSSP300, but falls and injuries are part of my job as a rider.
"For my part, the 2020 season is over and tomorrow I start my '2021 preseason'.
Carrasco, who won the the World Supersport 300 title in 2018, was fifth in the standings after three podium finishes this season.
