Allahabad: Fire brigade workers try to douse a state transport roadways bus that was set on fire by supporters of BSP leader Rajesh Yadav after his death, in Allahabad on Tuesday. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Rajesh Yadav was shot dead near the Tarachand hostel of Allahabad University on Monday night. (PTI Photo) Allahabad: Fire brigade workers try to douse a state transport roadways bus that was set on fire by supporters of BSP leader Rajesh Yadav after his death, in Allahabad on Tuesday. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Rajesh Yadav was shot dead near the Tarachand hostel of Allahabad University on Monday night. (PTI Photo)

A BSP leader was allegedly shot dead by students of Allahabad University outside a hostel on the campus early on Tuesday.

Rajesh Kumar Yadav (46), who had unsuccessfully contested the recent state polls from Gyanpur seat in Bhadohi, was with his friend, a doctor, when the incident took place. Yadav belonged to Bhadohi district.

While Yadav’s wife Monica got an FIR lodged, levelling charges at Dr Mukul Singh and his unidentified associates, police claimed the BSP leader was shot following a brawl with some students.

SHO of Colonelganj police station, Awadhesh Kumar Singh, claimed that Yadav and Singh had gone to Tara Chand hostel on the campus late Monday to meet some students. They were allegedly inebriated, he said.

“At the hostel, Yadav had a heated argument with a some students. The students started throwing stones at them… and the two ran towards Yadav’s SUV…,” he said.

“From his vehicle, Yadav fired at the students with his licensed pistol while attempting to flee. But before he could do so, the students stopped him… While Yadav was arguing with the students, one of them fired at him. A bullet hit his chest. Singh took Yadav to his hospital, Raj Nursing Home in George Town area, where he was declared dead on arrival,” said the SHO. “Yadav’s wife has alleged that Singh got her husband killed with the help of his associates. She is yet to tell us about the motive,” he added.

Another police officer said: “Preparations are on at the university for the student body elections. Yadav, a former a student of the university, had gone to the hostel. The two had an altercation with students and Yadav was shot.”

Following the incident, Yadav’s supporters threw stones at Singh’s nursing home and torched a Roadways bus. “Journalists and policemen were injured in the stone-pelting… the protesters also smashed mobile phones and cameras of the journalists,” said a police officer, adding that they had to use force to disperse the agitators.

“The situation is under control now. We have called Dr Singh to record his statement,” Circle Officer of Colonelganj police, Alok Mishra, said.

Yadav’s house is next to Singh’s residence on Panna Lal Road in Georgetown, which is near Raj Nursing Home. When contacted, Singh’s brother Rahul Singh said, “We do not know who did this and why. There is a possibility of political rivalry. Yadav was a very close friend of ours for over 10 years.”

IG (Allahabad Range) Ramit Sharma said: “We are investigating. We are also trying to collect CCTV footage, if any.”

In a statement, BSP chief Mayawati termed Yadav’s murder “the beginning of the era of political killings in UP, after murders on communal and caste lines”. She asked the state government to “immediately arrest those behind the murder”.

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