NEWS

Political feud in UP claims another life

By Polly Wilson in Lucknow
June 26, 2007 21:14 IST

The long standing feud between two equally dreaded rivals -- Mukhtar Ansari and Krishnanand Rai -- claimed another life left three wounded in a blast in Ghazipur town of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

The victim was the official body guard of Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Alka Rai, wife of slain leader Krishnanand Rai who was gunned down in broad daylight about two years ago.

One of the injured was a cop, while the other two were the legislator's neighbours, police said.

According to an official, the assailants were suspected to be belonging to the same group involved in the killing of Krishnanand Rai.

No arrests could however be made so far, he added.

While one of the injured was stated to be critical, he other two were described as 'out of danger.'

The blast also damaged some portion of the adjoining residence of another former BJP legislator Manoj Sinha.

Krishnanand Rai, who also had a number of criminal cases pending against him, was involved in a feud with mafia don-turned-independent legislator Mukhtar Ansari, a Samajwadi Party ally, whose name spells terror in large parts of Eastern UP.

Ansari and his parliamentarian brother Afzal Ansari are currently in jail, facing trial for their alleged involvement in the Rai murder case.
Polly Wilson in Lucknow

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email