Two arrested for plotting murder of Phoolan Devi witness

Hardwar, May 2 (UNI) A plot to kill Ms Uma Kashyap, prime witness in the Phoolan Devi murder case, was today foiled by the Special Operation Group (SOG) with the arrest of two persons, including an advocate.

The team, led by R B Chamola, arrested advocate Anuj Pundir and his accomplice, Javed Ansari alias Babbu, from Roorkee at about 1200 hrs.

Talking to mediapersons, SP (city) J R Joshi, said, police had been tapping conversations between Sher Singh Rana, prime accused in Phoolan Devi murder case, and Pundir.

Pundir confessed Rana had asked him to kill Ms Kashyap besides arranging telephonic conservations between Javed and Rana. Javed said Rana had struck a deal with him under which he was to get Rs one lakh in advance and an amount of Rs 50,000 after the murder was carried out, Javed said.

Javed, who was also involved in the dacoity in a college of Roorkee in 2004, said the murder plan was to be executed before May 5.

A case under sections 120-B, 302 and 115 of the IPC has been registered against them in the Gang Nahar police station, Roorkee.

The SP has announced a cash reward of Rs 2,500 for the SOG.

MS Kashyap had reportedly gone with Rana to the residence of Phoolan Devi and was present when she was shot dead by him. After the murder, she expressed fear that she might be killed by him.

Though the district police provided security to her, it was withdrawn after she got involved in some criminal cases in the district.

On April, 25, Ms Kashyap was again provided with security as Rana was arrested by the Delhi police on the same day, the SP said.

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