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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The Uttaranchal police is unwilling to believe Sher Singh Rana alias Pankaj's claim that he killed Samajwadi Party MP Phoolan Devi to avenge the killing of 20 upper caste Thakurs by Phoolan's gang on February 14, 1981 in Behmai, Uttar Pradesh.
Uttaranchal Director General of Police A K Saran told rediff.com, "Shersingh was probably not even ten years old when the incident took place. Moreover, he belongs to Saharanpur district, which is far away from Behmai. We suspect he now wants to become a hero amongst the Thakur community by claiming he killed Phoolan Devi to avenge the Behmai killings."
Sher Singh is a Thakur and belongs to Roorkee. None of his relatives were killed in Behmai.
Saran said Uma and Vijay Kashyap had introduced Sher Singh to Phoolan Devi. "Uma seems to have played a major role in introducing the killer to Phoolan Devi," the DGP added.
Uma used to run a beauty parlour in Roorkee before she became president of the Roorkee Eklavya Sena, an organisation for the backward castes floated by Phoolan Devi.
"Sher Singh and Ravinder, another accused in Phoolan Devi's murder, accompanied Uma to be introduced to Phoolan Devi," Saran said.
"We have handed over Rana to the Delhi police. They will now take him to Delhi for interrogation. Only after detailed interrogation will the facts of the conspiracy come out," Saran added.
Ravinder is absconding. The Delhi police had claimed earlier that three killers were involved in Phoolan Devi's murder.
Uma and Vijay Kashyap are being questioned by the Delhi police to find out their role, if any, in the murder.
Saran said Sher Singh's brothers -- Vijay Singh Rana and Vikram Singh Rana -- who own a liquor shop on the Saharanpur-Roorkee border were missing since July 25. "This strengthened our suspicion," he added.
EARLIER REPORT: Pankaj arrested, claims killing Phoolan
Complete Coverage: The Phoolan Devi murder
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