NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested four of the 12 people accused in the shootout at BJP leader Brijpal Teotia in Ghaziabad, the remaining eight have been identified, the police said on Wednesday.
According to the police revenge seems to be the motive behind the attack which has left Teotia critically injured. The shootout was planned for days by prime accused Manesh, son of Suresh Diwan, who was killed in a similar shootout in 1999 and Teotia was accused of the murder.
“We have arrested four Ram Kumar,Nishant ,Rahul Tyagi and Jitendra. Ram Kumar was part of planning. Nishant is a shooter and a conspirator. Rahul was among the conspirator and Jitendra arranged the shooter” said Sujeet Pandey, IG Meerut range.
The main accused Manish sold his land and gathered money to execute the crime to get revenge, the group tried to attack Teotia twice but missed. After planning of many days, one of the accused arrested visited Teotia's residence where got to know Teotia has left. Then he went to the venue where Teotia held a public meeting, police informed further.
Of the 12 eight accused are still absconding namely - Manish, Manoj , Gaurav, Abhishek , Pintu, Pahalwan and Sansar Singh. After showering bullets on the car in which Teotia was travelling. Accused left in two groups after shootout. Registration no of the car was changed, the SUV was looted from Gurgaon, the police said further.
“Around 20 teams have been formed including STF and crime branch and combing operation are on we are in touch with different agencies to know source of AK 47. Three teams are still working on it.” Said a police official.
The BJP leader was returning to Ghaziabad after addressing a protest against the Bulandshehar gangrape incident where mother-daughter duo were dragged out the car and were allegedly gangraped.