large-scale violence rocked Azamgarh when former MlA and BSP leader Sarvesh Singh Seepu, along with two of his associates, was gunned down on Friday. The attackers fled on three different motorcycles after shooting him at point-blank range.
Thousands of Seepu’s supporters took to streets and clashed with the police. They demanded immediate arrest of the local police in-charge. Dozens of vehicles were torched down and rifles were also snatched from the policemen.
Around 25 people were shot at in the crossfire. Condition of five has been stated critical and they were rushed to Varanasi.
IG (law and Order) RK Vishwakarma said prima facie the murder seems to be a result of rivalry between Sarvesh Singh and criminal Pantu Singh, presently lodged at Varanasi jail. However, Seepu’s supporters blamed the police for his murder as the ex-MlA was returning from the police station when the incident took place.
They claimed that the police refused to give him security even after several requests. Some of the supporters also pointed towards the rivalry between the present Samajwadi Party MlA and Minister Durga Prasad Yadav and Seepu.
Sarvesh, who remained a Samajwadi Party MlA from Sagri constituency in Azamgarh during its last regime had parted ways with the party after Amar Singh’s exit. He contested the last Assembly elections from Sadar seat in Azamgarh on a BSP ticket but lost the battle.
On Friday morning, he was summoned to the local Jiyanpur police station by it’s in-charge Vijay Singh, in connection with some property dispute.