Samajwadi Party leader’s son shot dead in UP ‘road rage’ case

Aligarh, February 18

A Samajwadi Party leader’s son was shot dead during a violent clash that broke out here after a “road rage” incident involving a local BJP leader’s son, police said on Tuesday.

They said 20-year-old Sachin, son of district-level SP leader Puranmal Prajapati, was killed on Monday night in Palasahibabad locality in Sasni Gate area as the argument following the collision between two motorcycles led to stone-pelting and firing.

Six people, including the deceased’s younger brother and a policeman, were injured in the clash, the police said.

They said the incident took place when Prajapati and his other son -- Narendra -- were going to attend a function related to backward classes.

They were on a motorcycle which collided with the motorcycle of Amit, son of Ishwar Chand Upadhyay, a BJP leader who was previously an office-bearer in the party’s district unit, the police said. 

The incident led to a heated argument that escalated into stone-pelting and firing as the two sides were joined by their supporters, the police said, adding that the mob set Amit’s motorcycle ablaze.

Sachin also arrived at the scene and was hit by a bullet, they said, adding that he later died in hospital.

Three people were arrested but the main suspects fled, they said.

SP (Crime) Arvind Kumar said it was a case of “road rage”. He said the police were questioning some people to ascertain if the two sides had enmity as claimed by locals.

The two families live in nearby localities. PTI