UP witness killing: BJP leader’s brother reportedly named in Umesh Pal murder case
Umesh Pal, prime witness in murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal in 2005, was shot dead on Friday, sparking political uproar in Uttar Pradesh.
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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Feb 26, 2023, 11:08 PM IST
Ghulam, brother of BJP leader Rahil Hasan, is one of the persons named in the killing of prime witness in the high-profile 2005 murder case of BSP MLA, latest reports claim. Ghulam was one of the people against whom a case has been registered along with former SP MP Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, and aide Guddu Muslim and nine others.
Ghulam has been removed from the party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) District President Ganesh Kesharwani was quoted to have told India Today TV. However, there is no official update on this, the report added.
Umesh Pal, prime witness in murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal in 2005, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Prayagraj's Dhumanganj area on Friday, sparking political uproar in Uttar Pradesh. One shooter was also hit in the attack on Pal and died later.
Those named in the case have been booked under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
Umesh Pal was attacked outside his residence while returning from court with his security personnel. It is alleged that Atiq Ahmed’s sons along with aides Guddu and Ghulam and nine others launched a flurry of bullets and hurled bombs at Pal.
Umesh Pal and his security personnel were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. One gunner was put on a ventilator and also died later. The other is currently being treated.
Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed is the main accused in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. He is currently lodged in a Gujarat prison. Eight teams have been formed to investigate the case of the prime witness’ killing.
(Inputs from PTI)