A former village head in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi who campaigned actively for Smriti Irani in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his house on intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, police said.
Police suspect personal enmity behind the murder but locals said political rivalry could not be ruled out.
The local administration has deployed police force in the village apprehending law and order trouble. The victim Surendra Singh was the former pradhan of Baraulia village in Amethi.
“Singh was shot dead while he was sleeping on a verandah outside his house in Baraulia village. The incident was discovered when one of his family members spotted him lying in unconscious on the cot at around 3 am on Sunday. The family rushed Singh to a near-by hospital where he was declared brought dead,” Superintendent of Police (SP) of Amethi, Rajesh Kumar said.
The reason behind the murder is yet not known but efforts are on ascertain it. “Six people with whom Singh’s family had strained relations in the past have been taken in custody for questioning and further probe is on,” the district police chief said.
Locals said Singh was a supporter of Smriti Irani and BJP and actively campaigned for her. They said Singh attended Irani’s victory celebration at the BJP office on Saturday evening.
They said that Irani accompanied along local opinion leaders of villages and block levels during her campaigning. Singh often used to accompany her along whenever she campaigned in the area, they added.