Witness in Raja Bhaiya case shot dead

Two motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead Rajendra Yadav, pradhan [head] of Baand Mau village and one of the prime witnesses in the Prevention of Terrorism Act case against independent legislator Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya in Kunda, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, Additional Director General of Police [Law and Order] Vikram Singh said.

Rajendra Yadav was one of the two who had given clues to the police that led to the recovery of a Kalashnikov rifle from the possession of Udai Pratap Singh, the legislator's father. It was the recovery of this weapon and some other arms and ammunition that prompted the administration to slap the POTA on father and son.

Chief Minister Mayawati had charged the duo with hatching a conspiracy to kill her.

The police had provided security to the witness.

With inputs from the Press Trust of India