Smriti Irani, BJP MP lends shoulder to mortal remains of Surendra Singh

Amethi: BJP leader Smriti Irani and a party MP from Amethi on Sunday lended a shoulder to mortal remains of Surendra Singh, ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi, who was shot dead on Saturday night by two unidentified men.

Suspects have been detained in connection with the murder of BJP leader Smriti Irani's associate and former village head Surendra Singh in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Sunday.

Read: Suspects in murder of Smriti Irani's aide held by police in Amethi

Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram said Surendra Singh (50), the former head of Baraulia village was shot at around 11.30 pm on Saturday. He was referred to Lucknow in a serious condition and he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, the police officer said, adding two people have been detained in connection with the incident and further investigation was underway.

Locals claim that Surendra Singh was considered close to Irani and he was involved in the distribution of footwear.

Son of Surendra Singh, who was shot dead said, "My father was a close aide of Smriti Irani and used to campaign 24/7. After she became MP, Vijay Yatra was carried out. I think some Congress supporters didn't like it,we have suspicions on some people."

Baraulia village was in news during campaigning in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, as Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had accused Smriti Irani of distributing shoes to the residents in order to insult Rahul Gandhi.

In the general elections, the Congress suffered a major embarrassment with Rahul Gandhi losing the party's stronghold Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani by 55,120 votes.

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