Close aid of Smriti Irani shot dead in Amethi
Police on Sunday detained suspects in the killing of former village head and close aide of Union Minister Smriti Irani in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi. A former village head of Baraulia in Uttar Pradesh and close aid to Irani, Surendra Singh, was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men in Amethi district, police said Sunday.
"We have detained some suspects in the case. We are getting more information and are acting on it," Amethi's Supritendent of Police Rajesh Kumar said.
The police are looking into all aspects of killing, including political rivalry.
"Since he had been a village chief, it seems to be a fallout of an old rivalry. We are not ruling out a political rivalry and are looking into all aspects of the case," the police said.
Meanwhile, Irani on Sunday left for her parliamentary constituency Amethi, where she will meet the family of her close aide Singh.
The incident of killing was reported from the village at around 11.30 pm Saturday, while Singh was sleeping in the verandah of his house, said additional Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram.
The deceased was identified as 50-year-old Surendra Singh and was involved in the distribution of footwear.
Following the incident, Singh was referred to Lucknow in a serious condition, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, the police officer said.
Two people have been detained in connection with the incident and further investigation is underway, he said.
Also Read | 'A new morning for Amethi': Smriti Irani thanks voters for 'historic mandate'
Baraulia village was in news during campaigning in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, as Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had accused Smriti Irani of distributing shoes to the residents in order to insult Rahul Gandhi.
In the general elections, the Congress suffered a major embarrassment with Rahul Gandhi losing the party's stronghold Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani by 55,120 votes.
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