Centre hands over Pratapgarh DSP murder case to CBI, FIRs soon

NEW DELHI: The Centre today handed over to CBI the probe into the killings of Pratapgarh Deputy Superintendent Police Zia-ul-Haq and two others following a request from the Uttar Pradesh government.

CBI sources said the agency is likely to register today four cases in connection with the incident and start the probe into the killings during Saturday's violence.

The name of 44-year-old former UP Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who has a criminal record and has been jailed in the past, figures in the FIR lodged by the slain officer's wife Parveen Azad in which he has been accused of criminal conspiracy. Parveen had also demanded a CBI probe.

Zia-ul-Haq, posted as Circle Officer in Kunda town, was allegedly killed by a mob in Pratapgarh when he had rushed there after village head Nanhe Yadav was shot dead over a land dispute. The village head's brother Suresh also died of gunshot wounds.

Raja Bhaiya, who resigned from the UP Cabinet after his name cropped up in the case, has refuted the charge.