Police deployment in Noida has been stepped up following backlash over the murder (Representative Image) | Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Noida: A 24-year-old Bajrang Dal functionary was allegedly killed by armed men here, police said Friday. According to the victim's family, he was killed for repeatedly complaining to the police about illegal activities of the accused. Ajay Chaudhary, a resident of JJ Colony in Sector 8, was called out of his house around 9.30 on Thursday night by Sarfaraz, who took him to the road where the other accused were waiting, police said.

"They caught hold of him there and Jeetu shot him in the chest while four more rounds were fired on him by others before they fled the spot brandishing the firearms," the police said. One of the neighbours, who saw the incident, rushed to help and alerted others. Soon, Ajay was taken to a hospital and then referred to another one, where doctors declared him brought dead, the police said, citing the complaint.

"A case was registered on a complaint by the family against eight persons, of whom six were named. Three of the accused have been arrested, while search is on to nab others," the police said. Those accused have been identified as Shehzaad, Ashraf, Zafar, Sartaj, Rafeeq, Jeetu Yadav, Sitabuddin Ansari, while two others remained unidentified, the police said.

"Three of them -- Zafar Ali, Sitabuddin Ansari, and Sartaj Khan -- have been arrested," they said. Peeved over the situation, scores of people from the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) gathered at Noida Sector 20 police station to protest the "police inaction" in the case. The police have initiated a departmental inquiry into the allegations of inaction and suspended the in-charge of a police post, officials said.

According to Vijay Chaudhary, his brother Ajay had made several complaints with the police as well as local authorities about the accused running betting racket, illicit liquor trade, drug trafficking, and other illegal businesses. A case was registered at the Sector 20 police station which has lodged an FIR for murder and related offences.

Scores of protesters reached the Noida Sector 20 police station and demanded strict action against the culprits and sought compensation for the family of the victim. "We have demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation to the family of the deceased along with a house. Ajay was staying with his old parents in a JJ Colony and was the sole support for them as his elder brother lives in some other city," Umanand Kaushik, in-charge of Gautam Buddh Nagar unit of the VHP, said.

"We have also demanded strict action against the errant police officials because Ajay had already made complaints to them. Had they taken some action, a precious life would not have been lost," Kaushik, who led the protest, told PTI. The protestors have submitted a letter of their demands, addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to the Noida City Magistrate.

Taking note of the concerns raised by the protesters, the police have initiated an inquiry against the policemen concerned in the case. "The in-charge of police post-Jhundpura in Sector 8 has been suspended while orders were given for a departmental inquiry in the matter over the complaints of negligence by local police," a police spokesperson said.

Another round of protests was witnessed on Friday evening, severely disrupting the traffic on city roads, prompting the police to charge baton and lob tear gas shells to disperse the mob. "There were some anti-social elements in the crowd, some drunkards, causing a ruckus while the family was proceeding for the funeral. That is when the police had to resort to using the force," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sharma said.

Asked about allegations that the family was being forced by the administration to carry out the funeral on Friday itself, the district police chief rubbished the charge and said, "If it were so, why would anyone wait till night. Baseless allegation."