Sacked UP minister held in police constable murder case

Lucknow, Jun 10 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Police today arrested sacked Minister of State for Fisheries Jamuna Nishad in connection with the killing of a police constable inside the Maharajganj Kotwali police station on June 7.

With Mr Nishad's arrest, the four-day-long controversy related his involvement in constable Krishnanand Rai's murder came to an end.

The ex-minister's apprehension came just 20 hours after the state Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh had said that there was no prima-facie evidence against Mr Nishad for his arrest in the case.

The DGP said Mr Nishad was arrested, while on way to the Chief Minister's residence to attend a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) meeting this morning.

The arrest was made after having the statement of the eye-witness, who said the BSP MLA was present at the murder site, he added.

''The Maharajganj police has been informed about the arrest and a team, including the investigating officer from there would take Mr Nishad on transit remand from a local court here,'' Mr Singh informed.

This was the second time, when police apprehended a senior BSP leader near the CM's residence.

Last year, BSP MP Umakant Yadav was arrested in front of the CM's house in connection with a criminal case.

The DGP said 12 persons had already been arrested in Maharajganj in this regard. The ex-minister was nabbed in the case number 746/08 under section 147, 148, 149, 302, 120(B), 34, 452, 323, 333, 353, 504, 506 and 427 of IPC and section 27 of Arms Act.

He said other culprits also would not be spared.

The minister, who was said to have led the mob to ransack the Maharajganj Kotwali on the night of June 7 was sacked by Ms Mayawati the next day.

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