UP recommends CBI probe in BSP MLA's murder

Lucknow, May 15 (UNI) Days after Ms Mayawati took over as the Chief Minister, the Uttar Pradesh government today recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, allegedly by the sibling of controversial SP MP Atiq Ahmed on the Republic Day in 2005.

''A notification in this regard has been issued,'' Home Secretary R M Srivastava told UNI.

On January 26, 2005, Raju Pal, a BSP MLA from Allahabad, was shot while returning home to Neewa village after making arrangements for his wedding reception. He, along with his gunner Sandeep Pal and another occupant Devi Lal Pal, died on the spot.

Controversial Samajwadi Party MP Atiq Ahmed's brother Mohammed Ashraf is accused of carrying out the crime.

Raju Pal had defeated Ashraf in the by-elections to the Allahabad (West) Assembly seat on October 13, 2004.

After Pal's murder, his wife Pooja had contested the elections unsuccessfully.

But in the just-concluded Assembly elections, Pooja managed to win from the seat.

Over two dozen criminal cases were pending against Raju Pal while, the Atiq-Ashraf duo has a long history of ''criminal activities'' in Allahabad region.

All along, BSP president Mayawati had been demanding a CBI probe into the crime. She had also charged the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government with being behind the crime.

UNI