BSP leader killed, cop arrested

Violence erupted in Azamgarh district after BSP leader and former MLA Sarvesh Singh Seepu and one more person were shot dead by three unidentified assailants near his residence in Jiyanpur area on Friday morning. SO Vijay Singh has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder. Vijay Singh, who was posted at the Jiyanpur police station, where the murder took place on Friday morning, was arrested on Friday night on the orders of the SSP. Supporters of Sarvesh Singh were demanding the arrest of the SO, who is suspected of having links with the alleged killers. Sarvesh Singh, 35, had gone to the Jiyanpur police station on Friday morning in connection with some work and was returning home when the assailants came on a motorbike and opened fire indiscriminately. The former MLA and his friend Bharat Rai were killed on the spot and the assailants fled on their motorbike. As soon as the news of his killings spread, Sarvesh Singh’s supporters went on rampage, setting vehicles on fire. As the swelling mob became increasingly violent, the police had to open fire to disperse the crowd. Two persons were killed in police firing and about 11 others, including a local journalist, were injured. Fifty others were injured in the rioting. The police said that 12 civilians and six cops with bullet injuries had been hospitalised. This added fuel to the fire and the mob went on to torch more vehicles and indulged in heavy stone pelting and brick-batting. The crowds vandalised the Jiyanpur police station and attempted to torch it. Two “Vajra” vehicles and six motorcycles belonging to the police were also set on fire. The mob also snatched away rifles in the police station. IG (law and order) R.K. Vishwakarma said in Lucknow that additional forces had been sent from Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Gorakhpur and Mau to control the situation and IG, Varanasi zone, G.L. Meena had rushed to Azamgarh to take stock of the situation. The special task force will investigate the murders. According to police reports, the incident appears to be a fallout of an old enmity. A massive search operation has been launched.