Village head shot dead in Baghpat over ‘political rivalry’; 1 injured

Meerut: Two bike-borne assailants allegedly shot dead a village head and critically injured another man who tried to intervene in Binauli area of Baghpat's Sirsauli on Wednesday evening, in what police suspect was a fallout from an old political rivalry.The incident occurred around 6 pm, when Dharmendra Tomar, 50, was playing cards outside the house of his friend, a retired UP police sub-inspector Tejveer Singh, near the tempo stand.According to eyewitnesses, known criminal Ayush and his accomplice arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire with country-made pistols. Tomar was hit by four bullets in the waist, chest, and neck, and died on the spot. Vineet Kumar, 35, who attempted to intervene, sustained two gunshot wounds, including one in the hand, and is currently undergoing treatment."Based on the incident, an FIR has been registered under BNS sections 103 (murder) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) against Ayush, Arjun, and two unidentified men. Multiple teams have been formed to investigate, and CCTV footage is being reviewed," said Baghpat SP Suraj Kumar Rai. The victim's family alleged that Ayush orchestrated the attack to benefit a relative contesting the upcoming Panchayat elections. Witnesses claim Ayush confronted Tomar about his intention to run again and opened fire when Tomar confirmed his candidacy.Police said Ayush has about a dozen criminal cases against him. His father and other relatives are serving sentences in a separate murder case stemming from long-standing village enmity. Ayush, recently out on bail from Haridwar jail for attempted murder, is believed to have planned the killing."The murder is politically motivated and linked to upcoming Panchayat Raj elections. Additional police forces have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order," added the SP.