Blast rocks slain BJP MLA's residence in eastern UP; one killed

Ghazipur/Lucknow, June 26 (UNI) At least one person was killed and three others injured in a blast at the residence of former BJP MLA late Krishnanand Rai in Ghazipur city this morning.

According to DGP office in the state capital, the blast occurred at the residence of late Mr Rai at Sidhashway Nagar which was being used by former BJP MP Manoj Sinha as his party office.

Two rooms and the boundary wall of the building collapsed following the blast. It also caused a small fire.

The gunner of Manoj Sinha, identified as Nand Lal Thakur, was killed in the explosion. His body was pulled out from the debries of the house. Thakur was reportedly sleeping at the time of the incident.

The three injured are nephew of late Rai, Manoj Rai, a cook, Manoj Kanaujiya of Bihar, and a security personnel Ram Kumar Thakur.

Manoj Rai is a witness in the Krishnanand Rai murder case.

However, during the time of the explosion, Mr Sinha and wife of Krishnanad Rai, Alka were not present in the house.

Explosive experts of UP police along with senior officials have been rushed from Varanasi. It is being believed that some explosives stored in the house went off accidentally which led to the incident.

Krishnanand Rai was shot dead by a group of assailants on November 29, 2005. Controversial Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari is the prime accused in the assassination of Rai.

Meanwhile, SP MLA Sibagtullah Ansari, brother of Mukhtar and Afzal has alleged that the explosives were been stored at the residence of Krishnanand Rai in order to eleminate his two brothers when they come out of the jail to appear before court in the case.

UNI