BSP legislator, brother booked on murder charge

LUCKNOW - A legislator from Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and his brother were booked for a murder following violent protests by supporters of a candidate killed in the panchayat polls in Sultanpur district Tuesday, police said.

Supporters of Ram Kumar Yadav accused local legislator Sonu Singh and his brother Monu Singh, a block pramukh (chief), of kidnapping and killing him.

“While Yadav was reported missing Sunday, his body was recovered from Majhwara village Tuesday, following which his supporters went on a rampage, burning down vehicles and other property belonging to the Singh brothers in the village,” a local police official told IANS over telephone from Sultanpur, 150 km from Lucknow.

“While tempers did calm down after the police agreed to register a criminal case of kidnapping and murder against Sonu Singh and Monu Singh, villagers were still sitting on a dharna (sit-in) to press their demand for the arrest of the two,” he added.

Known for their criminal antecedents, the Singh brothers were earlier alleged to be involved in the murder of a local seer, Sant Gyaneshwar. However, they were acquitted by a court for lack of evidence.