Ex-BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case: Main witness shot dead, gunners critical

Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said that between 5 to 5.30 pm information was received that an Umesh Pal, who was pursuing some cases in the court, had been attacked in the Dhumanganj area.

"He was provided two gunners for security and they too have been critically injured. Umesh Pal has died," he said.

He said that one of the gunners, who is critical, is on the ventilator and efforts were being made to revive him. He said that the second gunner is also critical and is being operated upon.

Sharma said that the incident took place in front of Pal's house in Sulem Sarai locality and further legal action will be taken once a written complaint is received from the family members.

"8 to 10 teams have been constituted and dispatched to different places. On the basis of CCTV footage it is being analysed how many people were involved in the attack," he said.

He said that as per the initial information a small weapon and two bombs have been used in the attack.

Police sources said that Umesh Pal and his two gunners, including Sandeep Nishad, were taken to the hospital in a critical condition.

Vikram Sinha, the counsel of Umesh Pal, said that there was a final hearing in the kidnapping case of Umesh in the court on Friday.

"He was in the court till around 4.30 am. He left the court premises along with the security guards on the pretext of going home. When Sunil Vaishya, the government counsel of Umesh Pal, called him he heard gunshots," he said.

It may be noted that Umesh Pal, who was considered close to Raju Pal's wife and former MLA Puja Pal, was attacked earlier also, but he escaped unhurt. He received several life threats due to which the government provided him with two security guards.

Raju Pal, BSP MLA from Allahabad West seat was shot dead in Sulem Sarai area on January 25, 2005.

A case was lodged against former MP Atique Ahmed, his younger brother former MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and others in the case.

Umesh Pal was also kidnapped by Atique's henchmen and a case was also lodged in this regard. CBI investigated the Raju Pal murder case in which Umesh Pal was the main witness. This was the reason he was threatened with life several times.

Raju Pal's wife and former MLA Pooja Pal had also raised apprehension many times that Umesh Pal might be killed to influence the testimony.

Sources said that the rivalry between Umesh Pal, the main witness in MLA Raju Pal murder case and mafia-turned-politician former MP Atique Ahmed was about 17 years old.

"When Umesh became a witness in the Raju Pal murder case, Atique got him kidnapped on 28 February 2008. Umesh had filed five FIRs against Atique's gang so far," they said.