UP policeman's murder: CBI seeks transfer of four cops

Kunda: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the murder of senior police officer Zia-ul-Haque and two others in Uttar Pradesh's Kunda, has written to the Akhilesh Yadav government seeking transfer of four cops, who are allegedly hampering its investigation.

In a letter to the state government, a joint director of the CBI cited political pressure and unease amongst villagers to testify in the triple murder case as reasons for seeking the transfer of inspectors Nishikant Rai, Arvind Singh, Prakash Rai and Ashok Pandey, according to IANS. Director General of Police AC Sharma has said that the four police officers will be transferred.

Mr Haque was killed on March 2 after he reached the village in Pratapgarh district where the village headman, Nanhe Yadav, had been shot. An angry mob reportedly cornered him, and eight policemen who were with him allegedly abandoned him. Three bullets were fired - one killed Mr Haque; two others killed Mr Yadav's brother.

Kunda is considered the pocket-borough of former UP minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya. Mr Haque's wife Parveen Azad has alleged the MLA is responsible for her husband's murder. The allegations led to his resignation as minister from the Akhilesh Yadav government.

Advertisement

The CBI, which is probing the case, has registered four cases pertaining to three murders in Ballipur village on March 2 and booked Raja Bhaiya in one of them on the complaint of Ms Azad. The former minister's cousin and Member of State Legislative Council Akshay Pratap Singh has also been questioned in connection with the case.