BJP leader beaten to death for stopping drunk youths from creating ruckus in Varanasi, son injured

Varanasi: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was beaten to death and his son was seriously injured leading to five accused being detained and 10 police personnel, including in-charge of a police outpost and two Sub-Inspectors bein suspended, a senior police officer said here on Thursday. 

Police sources said that BJP leader Pashupati Nath Singh (71) resided in Jai Prakash Nagar colony under Sigra police station.

"There is a liquor vend and a beer shop near the residence of Singh. On Wednesday night some youths created ruckus after getting drunk, to which Singh and his son Rajan (45) resisted. This led to a dispute," they said.

Police sources said that initially the youths left, but after sometime around 30 to 40 people armed with sticks and rods reached the colony and attacked Singh.

"When Singh's son Rajan came to rescue his father he too was brutally assaulted. While Singh died on the spot, Rajan sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to Trauma Center at Banaras Hindu University (BHU)," they said.

Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh said, "The state government and the DGP have taken a serious note of the murder of an elderly man in Jai Prakash Nagar. Son of the victim has lodged a named FIR against 17 people at Sigra police station. The post mortem has been conducted on priority."

He said that five accused involved in the incident have been detained by the police and are being quizzed. "Five teams are continuously carrying out raids to arrest the remaining accused and they will be nabbed soon.

The CP said that 10 policemen have been suspended on charges of not taking action against anti-social elements.

"They comprise In-charge of police outpost Neeraj Ojha, two SIs, three head constables and four constables. Stern legal action will be ensured against the accused. Necessary steps will be taken to check that such incidents do not reoccur in the future," he said. (UNI)