Lucknow, May 9: A BJP corporator was shot dead in Phulpur on Tuesday night. Police have launched a hunt for the accused. The assailant came on bikes to execute the killing.

Phulpur inspector Awadhesh Pratap Singh said that the incident took place while 34-year-old Pawan Kesari, the elected representative of Lochanganj ward, was dropping a friend home after dinner at an eatery in the neighbourhood. The friend, Arif from Sheikhpur Takia village, escaped unhurt, reported Hindustan Times.

An FIR has been lodged against the four accused by the corporator’s family. The two accused have been identified as Sonu and Pravez Alam. Hindustan Times reported that Sonu’s brother, Shehzade  was gunned down near a railway crossing in the area a few months ago.

According to the Phulpur Inspector, Pawan’s family has alleged political enmity as the motive behind the murder and we are investigating that angle too, among others. However, police were unable to confirm the exact number of assailants. The exact number of murderers are still not known.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. They even staged a protest. Senior Superintendent of Police (Allahabad) Akash Kulhary said, security personnel have been deployed across Phulpur in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident. He also added that three people have been detained for questioning.

Kesari sustained three bullet injuries, two on the chest and one on the head. He was taken to the SRN Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Kesari was said to be close to deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. A woman, named Urmila, was also hit by a stray bullet fired. She was admitted to a local hospital. After post-mortem Kesari’s body was handed over to the family for cremation on Wednesday morning.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2018 04:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).