BSP MLA murder case accused killed in police encounter

The man who killed a key witness in the murder case of a BSP MLA has been shot dead in an encounter in the early hours of Monday in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case, was shot dead at his residence on February 24. The accused named Usmaan aka Vijay Chaudhary was one of the six shooters who fired bullets at Pal, according to the CCTV footage.

On Monday, he was shot dead in Kaundhiyara in Prayagraj around 5.30 am. Police said Usman was the one who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal. A police officer said the encounter site was between Gothi and Belwa in the Kaundhiyara police station area. Usman suffered bullet injuries in his neck, chest and thigh, PTI reported.

He said Usman's brother Rakesh Chaudhary is lodged in Naini Central Jail and a dozen of cases including that of murder have been registered against him. A constable, Narendra Pal, was also injured in the Monday's encounter.

Taking on Twitter about the incident, UP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi said, "Didn't we say that we will destroy them (mafia nexus)!! Usman, the dreaded killer who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal and Sandeep Nishad, was also killed in a police encounter today."

Umesh was the prime witness of the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal. The main accused in the Raju Pal murder is mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, who is currently lodged in a Gujarat Jail. A severely injured Umesh Pal was rushed to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital where he succumbed during treatment, police said.

Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan also confirmed the news of the encounter and said, "Pujya Maharaj @myogiadityanath ji had said that they (mafia nexus) will be destroyed. The dreaded absconding killer Usman, who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal and Sandeep Nishad, was also killed in an encounter by the police today #up."

It has to be noted that the cops had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to those who give clues about Usman's whereabouts.

On February 27, Arbaz, who allegedly drove the SUV of the assailants, was killed in an encounter with the police in Prayagraj. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam and nine others.

They have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Jaya Pal had claimed that her husband was the prime witness in the Raju Pal murder case. In 2006, Atiq Ahmed and his aides abducted him and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard and the case was ongoing. Atiq Ahmed is the prime accused in the Raju Pal murder case and is currently lodged in a Gujarat jail.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on Sunday announced a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh for giving information about the five people, including gangster and former MP Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, allegedly involved in the killing of Umesh Pal. Besides Asad, the other four accused on which reward was announced included Gulam, Guddu and Sabir.

With inputs from agencies