LUCKNOW: The law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh plummeted to another low on Thursday when a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and his security guard were shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants in Greater Noida. Their driver is battling for life in hospital. A police operation to nab the assailants is underway.
BJP leader Shiv Kumar Yadav, 40, was shot by unidentified assailants in Tigri village under Bisrakh Police Station of Greater Noida. Yadav, who owned two schools in Haibatpur, was returning home to Bahlolpur in his SUV along with his security guard when four men on two motorcycles started firing indiscriminately.
Yadav died on the spot. His security guard Raees Pal succumbed en route to a hospital. His driver Walinath was admitted to a private nursing home and was later referred to JTB Hospital in Delhi in a critical condition.
The shooters fired at them for about half a kilometre. According to additional director general (Law & Order) Anand Kumar, it seemed to be a case of old personal enmity.
It is believed that Charan Singh of Haibatpur had animosity towards Yadav, who had earlier gone to jail in the murder of the former’s cousin five years ago but was freed two years back after a compromise between the two parties.
Sources said Yadav’s father was killed 25 years ago, and their rivalry was simmering since then.
Spent cartridges were were recovered from the spot.
Yadav had joined the BJP a few years ago and was considered close to party MP Mahesh Sharma.
Two months ago, BJP leader Gajendra Bhati was killed by two assailants in Ghaziabad.