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Five arrested for BJP rebel's murder in Delhi

The Delhi police yesterday claimed to have made a breakthrough in the murder of Ved Singh, Samata Party candidate for Nangloi Jat assembly constituency, with the arrest of five suspects.

The special investigation team led by Joint Commissioner (southern range) Amod Kant arrested Sanjay (26), Amarjit (28), Virender alias Binder (24), Naresh (27), all residents of Mundka village, and Shabit alias Satbir (50), a resident of Nangloi village.

Several other persons, who are wanted in the case, are reported to be absconding.

Initially, the case was being investigated by the west Delhi police under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (west) Rajesh Malik. But considering its sensitiveness, a larger team was set up with JCP Kant at its head.

The police said the case has now opened up and the sequence of events leading to the murder has been ascertained.

Ved Singh alias Laloo Pahelwan was gunned down by car-borne assailants in Mundka village on Tuesday night. His companion, Ishwar Singh, sustained bullet injuries and died later at Apollo Hospital.

Polling for Nangloi constituency has since been adjourned by the Election Commission. The Samata Party has been given seven days to name a new candidate.

Ved Singh, who had defected to the Samata Party after being denied a ticket by the BJP, was going to meet a lawyer when five assailants fired at him from a Maruti car near the village square.

Meanwhile, the general security of candidates contesting the November 25 assembly election has been tightened.

The security of Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Shiela Dikshit has also been enhanced.

Swaraj has been brought under the Z category and the Special Protection Group has been summoned for her security. A motor escort has been added to Dikshit's security detail.

This followed a meeting of senior police officials convened by Commissioner V N Singh. Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill had held a meeting with Singh on Thursday to assess law and order in the capital.

At least seven constituencies, including Karaval Nagar, Seemapuri and Patel Nagar, have been identified as "super-sensitive" and security has been provided to candidates of all major political parties in these constituencies.

The candidates have been told to inform the local police about their campaign programmes in advance so that proper security can be provided.

UNI

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