Gang-style murders rock Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Two killings, of a businessman and a BJP leader, in a span of less than 24 hours have rocked Madhya Pradesh.

Barely 24 hours after real estate and media baron Sandeep Agrawal was shot dead in gangland style murder by unidentified assailants in a market place in Indore city, local civic body chief Pralhad Bandhwar was killed in a similar manner in district headquarters town of Mandsaur late on Thursday evening.

Mr Bandhwar, chairman of Mandsaur municipality, was shot from point blank range by a youth when he was visiting a shop of his friend in the town, police said.

According to the police, the accused, a pillion rider on a motorcycle, got down from the two-wheeler and walked to the unsuspecting BJP leader. He then pointed a revolver at his head and then pulled the trigger.

Mr Bandhwar was rushed to the local hospital where he died during treatment.

The police has launched a manhunt for the accused. Mandsaur observed a shutdown on Friday in protest against the killing.

Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited the family members of the slain party leader, condemned the killing and demanded a high-level probe into the incident. He said criminals have become emboldened after Congress came to power in the state.

Chief minister Kamal Nath, however, rejected the demand, saying that the victim’s son has already named two persons as accused in the FIR filed by him in connection with the incident.

Mr Nath dropped hints on involvement of a BJP man in the murder.

The BJP however categorically denied hand of any party man in the incident.

“Congress has a habit of linking BJP workers to any crime. MP is now heading for jungle raj with gangsters ruling the roost in towns”, a spokesman of BJP here said.