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Josy Joseph in New Delhi
It was her past that came back to haunt Phoolan Devi, the one-time terror of the Chambal valley, senior Delhi police officers believe.
According to information available with the police, Phoolan Devi's murder outside her government bungalow at 44 Ashoka Road was "well planned, probably involving several conspirators".
Police investigators have reconstructed the murder that took place at about 1330 IST on Wednesday, when Phoolan Devi was returning home from Parliament.
Phoolan Devi got a lift to her residence in another MP's car. She alighted at the gate of her residence, when three youths who were waiting in a Maruti car a few metres away got down and walked up to the former bandit queen.
As soon as they were close to her, they shot Phoolan Devi. The MP took five bullets, including one in the forehead. Her personal security officer Balwinder Singh was also hit. The PSO fired back with his 9mm gun, but the assailants got back in their car and drove off.
Phoolan Devi fell dead on the spot, but Singh tottered a few steps before collapsing. The PSO underwent surgery at the Ram Manohar Hospital and is now improving.
Meanwhile, the murderers drove for about a kilometre before abandoning their car on Pandit G B Pant Road and getting into another vehicle, believed to be a three-wheeler.
Remarking on this, a senior police officer said, "They could have changed to another vehicle after a few kilometres. It is possible that they have reliable hideouts and local support in Delhi."
The police for now believe some enemies from Phoolan Devi's criminal past, probably some victim of the Behmai massacre, might have masterminded the attack.
"There are no indications of any political angle in the incident," another police officer said. He also denied any information about the Uttar Pradesh government having withdrawn Phoolan Devi's security cover.
The Death of Phoolan Devi: The complete coverage
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