<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav finally pulled the plug on state minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya on Monday and sacked him over his alleged involvement in the recent killing of a police officer.<br /><br />Circle officer Zia-ul-Haque was allegedly gunned down by the state food and civil supplies minister’s henchmen at Walipur village in Pratapgarh district on Saturday.<br /><br />The chief minister asserted that the government was committed to an impartial probe before heading off to the slain policeman’s village in Deoria district, where he was learnt to have faced a hostile crowd. Haque’s wife, Parveen Azad, had threatened to hold back the burial until the chief minister visited the bereaved family. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the government has suspended eight police personnel, including the inspector of the Kunda kotwali and Haque’s gunner, who had reportedly fled the spot after being surrounded by a hostile mob. <br /><br />Haque was found dead with three bullets wounds, besides several injury marks on his body, indicating that he was thrashed before being shot. Two persons have also been arrested.<br /><br />The issue was taken up in the state Assembly. The Opposition members forced suspension of the Question Hour, demanding a discussion on their adjournment notices moved in this connection. They also demanded that the government be dismissed.<br /><br />Haque’s wife had alleged that the officer was killed by Singh’s henchmen. “My husband never went to Raja’s darbar (court) to offer his respect. I think that is the reason behind his killing,” she told reporters.<br /><br />“Raja Bhaiya’s writ runs in Kunda. The people are like rats. They never raise their voice against Raja Bhaiya. My husband, however, did not bow to the political bosses and he paid the penalty,” she said. She also threatened to commit self-immolation if denied justice. <br /><br />Raja Bhaiya has been booked in the case and charged with criminal conspiracy along with four supporters. He, however, claimed innocence and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. “I will never do anything that defames the Samajwadi Party,” he told the Assembly and expressed readiness to face any probe. <br /><br />He also alleged that Haque was killed in retaliatory fire by the villagers after another policeman shot at one of the locals. </p>.<p>CBI probe likely<br /><br />Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday acceded to Zia-ul-Haque’s wife’s demand for a CBI probe into the killing. Yadav also hinted that Raja Bhaiya would be arrested, reports DHNS from Lucknow. Yadav visited the members of the family of the slain police officer in Deoria district. <br /><br />Yadav assured them that they would be provided with security. He also gave them a cheque for Rs 50 lakh, besides promising jobs to two of them. “If the family wants a CBI probe, we will send a proposal to this effect to the Centre,” he said. <br /><br />“The persons named in the FIR will be arrested soon. No one, howsoever mighty he may be, will be spared.” The opposition parties have demanded that Raja Bhaiya be arrested. </p>
<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav finally pulled the plug on state minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya on Monday and sacked him over his alleged involvement in the recent killing of a police officer.<br /><br />Circle officer Zia-ul-Haque was allegedly gunned down by the state food and civil supplies minister’s henchmen at Walipur village in Pratapgarh district on Saturday.<br /><br />The chief minister asserted that the government was committed to an impartial probe before heading off to the slain policeman’s village in Deoria district, where he was learnt to have faced a hostile crowd. Haque’s wife, Parveen Azad, had threatened to hold back the burial until the chief minister visited the bereaved family. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the government has suspended eight police personnel, including the inspector of the Kunda kotwali and Haque’s gunner, who had reportedly fled the spot after being surrounded by a hostile mob. <br /><br />Haque was found dead with three bullets wounds, besides several injury marks on his body, indicating that he was thrashed before being shot. Two persons have also been arrested.<br /><br />The issue was taken up in the state Assembly. The Opposition members forced suspension of the Question Hour, demanding a discussion on their adjournment notices moved in this connection. They also demanded that the government be dismissed.<br /><br />Haque’s wife had alleged that the officer was killed by Singh’s henchmen. “My husband never went to Raja’s darbar (court) to offer his respect. I think that is the reason behind his killing,” she told reporters.<br /><br />“Raja Bhaiya’s writ runs in Kunda. The people are like rats. They never raise their voice against Raja Bhaiya. My husband, however, did not bow to the political bosses and he paid the penalty,” she said. She also threatened to commit self-immolation if denied justice. <br /><br />Raja Bhaiya has been booked in the case and charged with criminal conspiracy along with four supporters. He, however, claimed innocence and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. “I will never do anything that defames the Samajwadi Party,” he told the Assembly and expressed readiness to face any probe. <br /><br />He also alleged that Haque was killed in retaliatory fire by the villagers after another policeman shot at one of the locals. </p>.<p>CBI probe likely<br /><br />Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday acceded to Zia-ul-Haque’s wife’s demand for a CBI probe into the killing. Yadav also hinted that Raja Bhaiya would be arrested, reports DHNS from Lucknow. Yadav visited the members of the family of the slain police officer in Deoria district. <br /><br />Yadav assured them that they would be provided with security. He also gave them a cheque for Rs 50 lakh, besides promising jobs to two of them. “If the family wants a CBI probe, we will send a proposal to this effect to the Centre,” he said. <br /><br />“The persons named in the FIR will be arrested soon. No one, howsoever mighty he may be, will be spared.” The opposition parties have demanded that Raja Bhaiya be arrested. </p>