In a twist to the ongoing probe in thetriple murder at a Kunda village in which a senior cop was also among thosekilled, the CBI has sought the removal of all station house officials (SHOs)posted in the police stations of Kunda.
It has also sought the removal of Additional Superintendent of Police Asha RamYadav.
In a letter to the state government, a joint director of the CBI citedpolitical pressure and unease amongst villagers to come forward and testify inthe triple murder case as reasons for seeking the transfer of the policeofficials.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the March 2 murder ofPratapgarh village headman Nanhe Yadav, his brother Suresh, and the killing,hours later, by a violent mob, of deputy superintendent of police Zia-ul-Haq,who had rushed to the spot.
Kunda is considered the pocketborough of former UP minister Raghuraj PratapSingh alias Raja Bhaiyya.
The premiere investigative agency sought the transfer of inspectors NishikantRai (Hanthiganva), Arvind Singh (Nawabganj), Shri Prakash Rai (Kunda) and AshokPandey, the station house officer of Maheshganj.
Sources told IANS that the CBI team noticed the "immense politicalpressure and influence on these cops" and hence was of the view that theyshould be shifted.
"These cops are politically loyal and witnesses in the village fearvendetta, so are reluctant to testify before us," an official said.
The letter has reached the state home department, and a decision has still tobe taken. The communique has landed the administration in a piquant position,admitted a senior state government official.
"While we would like to be seen as fair there are other considerations insuch high profile cases with political ramifications," the officerconceded.
Meanwhile, the CBI team Tuesday interrogated the driver of Raja Bhaiyya and oneof his representatives.
Hari Om Srivastava, area representative of the Kunda legislator and RajaBhaiyya's driver Rohit Singh were subjected to sustained grilling by CBIsleuths at their camp office in Kunda.
Parveen, widow of slain police official Zia-ul-Haq had alleged that RajaBhaiyya was a conspirator in the murder of her husband. She also lodged an FIRagainst the minister, after which Raja Bhaiyya was forced to quit the AkhileshYadav government.