DSP Zia-ul-Haq killed in UP, wife blames Raja Bhaiya

LUCKNOW: In yet another incident highlighting the falling law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, a DSP-rank officer was killed and a sub-inspector grievously injured by an angry mob in Pratapgarh. The police officer was murdered when he had gone to control the mob protesting against the killing of a village head and his brother in Ballipur village of Pratapgarh. The killing of three people in the village within a few hours of each other led to major tension in the area. A large posse of cops was deployed to keep the situation under control. DSP Zia-ul-Haq suffered gunshots and succumbed to wounds on Saturday night, Additional DGP (law and order) Arun Kumar told PTI.

In a complaint to police, DSP’s widow Pravin Azad said, “On the directions of Raja Bhaiya, Nagar Panchayat Chairman Gulshan Yadav, minister’s representative Hari Om Srivastava, his driver Rohit Singh and supporter Guddu Singh first assaulted my husband with sticks and rods and later shot him dead.” She filed the complaint in Kunda police station on Sunday evening, where her husband was posted.

When contacted, food and civil supplies minister Raja Bhaiya said, “Anyone who is undergoing mental trauma could be misguided. This is an unfortunate incident... The accusation is being levelled with mala fide intention. Truth will prevail...” The Ballipur village falls under Pratapgarh’s Kunda assembly constituency, represented by RP Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya. He was recently divested of the charge of the prisons ministry.

The village head of Ballipur village, Nanhe Lal Yadav, 38, was fired upon and killed by some youths on Saturday night followed by the murder of his brother Surendra, 40. Yadav had recently contested and won the gram panchayat elections and had developed enmity with some other factions in the village.

He also had a land dispute with one Kamta Prasad Pal. Enraged over the murder, a group torched Pal’s house and allegedly even thrashed some women. As the situation detoriated, the Circle Officer, Kunda, Zia-ul-Haq (32), rushed to the spot, but the angry mob attacked the police force. Haq, a DSP-rank officer, was attacked and reportedly hit on the head. Somebody in the mob opened fire at him and Haq was killed on the spot.