A municipal councillor from Ghaziabad, identified as Chhote lal, was murdered on Thursday night when he was sleeping on a bench outside his house. A woman named Afsana alias Andhi has been arrested in connection with the case, police said.
Chhote lal of Nagar Nigam ward number 18 was sleeping outside his house due to electricity failure, when the accused thrashed him with iron rods on the intervening night of July 20 and 21. After getting information, police reached the spot and rushed him to the Government MMG Hospital from where he was referred to Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital in Delhi where he was declared brought dead.
Members of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and traders on Friday marched to protest against the councillor's murder and to demand strict action against the killers.
The protesters said police had failed to arrest all the culprits, who attacked and killed councillor Chhote lal on Thursday night, while he was asleep outside his house.
They submitted a memorandum to the Ghaziabad police chief demanding strict action against the accused and `50 lakh for the grieving family. The memorandum states that the councillor was a simple and poor person and the sole person in the family to earn livlihood. He represented the ward for the fourth term.
Chhote lal's brother Satendra blamed Raju Sharma, Bhure alias Rahul, Rahul's wife Shabana and the latter's sister Afsana alias Andhi for the killing. Police said that the motive behind the murder was not immediately known.
"After registering the case, investigation has been initiated and one of the culprits named Andhi has been arrested. Other accused are absconding," said SP Crime SK Singh.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation office of Ghaziabad was closed for a day on Friday to observe the condolence over the death of its fourth time councillor.