Local Political Rivalry in Amethi Killing: Police

Local Political Rivalry in Amethi Killing: Police

Three people have been arrested in the murder of a former village head in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, who worked closely with BJP leader Smriti Irani during her Lok Sabha campaign, the police said on Monday, adding that it was a case of “local-level political rivalry”.

“We have arrested three murder suspects. Two suspects are still absconding and we will catch them soon. On the basis of all evidence it is very clear that the five murder suspects and the victim had local-level political rivalry,” Uttar Pradesh police chief OP Singh said.

Surendra Singh, a BJP worker, was attacked at his home at around 3 am on Sunday; he died later at a hospital in Lucknow where he was taken for treatment, the police said.

Smriti Irani attended the funeral later in the day and said she will “move the Supreme Court, if needed, to seek death sentence” for the killers.

Amethi: A former village head, Surendra Singh, was shot dead at his home.

Amethi — a bastion of the Gandhi family for decades — voted out Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, its three-time lawmaker, this time and opted for Ms Irani.