Slain village pradhan's family tells CBI of threat from Raja Bhaiyya

Lucknow, March 30 (IANS) More trouble comes the way of former Uttar Pradesh minister and independent legislator from Kunda, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya in the triple murder case at Balipur. The family of gram pradhan Nanhe Yadav has complained to the CBI of threats from the former minister and his men.

Nanhe Yadav was shot dead March 2, while having tea at a stall in Balipur village. His brother Suresh was also killed.

In a written complaint to the CBI team camping in the village to probe the triple murder, including that of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Zia-ul-Haq, who rushed to the village to quell violent protests, the family of the deceased Nanhe and Suresh Yadav have apprehended threat to their lives. They told the investigative agency that they feared the "political connections" of the former minister.

Seeking security for the family, Pawan, the younger brother of the pradhan, has alleged that Raja Bhaiyya had telephonically threatened him not to proceed with the case any further. Pawan has also demanded that the CBI question Raja Bhaiyya in the case.

A senior CBI official confirmed to IANS Saturday that a formal complaint (tehreer) with regard to the threat perception to the family of the deceased village head had been received.

"We have received a complaint and would act on it as per law," he said.

Meanwhile, sources said that the CBI team probing the murders had decided to register Raja Bhaiyya's name in the case diary of the triple murder, thus making it imminent that the legislator be "put through interrogation."

Soon after the murder of the police official, his widow Parveen had also accused Raja Bhaiyya of conspiring to kill her husband. "There is no doubt that Raja Bhaiyya had a hand in my husband's death," she had said.

Zia-ul-Haq, circle officer of Kunda, was killed March 2 by a mob when he rushed to Balipur following the murder of village pradhan Nanhe Yadav and his younger brother Suresh.

After the widow of the cop pointed fingers at Raja Bhaiyya and his name was included in the first information report (FIR), the Kunda MLA was forced to quit the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet.

It does not require an elephants memory to remember the criminal antics of one Shahabuddin, a criminal MP during Lalu Yadav's reign, whose career was cut short after Nitish Kumar came to power. I wonder where he is rotting now.

This Raja Bhaiyya was kicked out of Mayawati's cabinet but was welcomed with open arms by Mulayam Singh and made a minister of jails in Akhilesh Yadav's ministry.

Habits die hard.

Raja Bhaiyya was again up to his old tricks but he may have bit off more than he could chew when he arranged to bump off the D S P, Zia-ul-Haq.

The fact that the DSP was a Muslim has queered the pitch for Mulayam Singh as if he did not take action, his Muslim vote bank would leave him.

Further, the persistence of the DSP's widow, Parveen, has paid off.

Let us hope now the law will actually take its course and not as the politician's claim it will.