UP Minister is innocent, claims Police

Bahraich, Jan 24 (UNI) Supporting Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister and senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Police has claimed that he is 'innocent' and has nothing to do with the killing of a SP leader.

On December 28 last, SP zila panchayat member Ram Bhoolan Verma was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Dallapurva area in Bahraich.

Talking to mediapersons here late last evening, Additional Director General of Police A C Sharma said ''...some politicians are unnecessarily creating hurdles in our work. Making allegations is a work of politicians. We are not going to get affected by it. Police has left no stone unturned to crack the case and we have reached a conclusion that Mr Ahmed is 'innocent'.'' ''The five accused had already been arrested and interrogation was on,'' Mr Sharma maintained.

SP General Secretary and MP Beni Prasad Verma had alleged Mr Ahmed's name in the murder. On January 17, Mr Verma had announced he would not talk to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, since no stringent action had been taken against the state labour minister.

Later, on January 22, he had said that after the thanksgiving motion to Governor T V Rajeshvar in the house on January 25, he would talk to Mr Yadav and demand quick action against Mr Ahmed -- the prime accused in the case.

UNI