BJP leader shot at in his Sultanpur restaurant, 1 assailant nabbed

LUCKNOW: Two alleged criminals shot at a businessman, who is also a member of the BJP state executive committee, at his restaurant in Sultanpur on Sunday night, police said. One of the assailants was arrested on Monday, police said.

Alok Arya, owner of Awantika Food Mall, was sitting at the office of the restaurant when the alleged criminals shot him in the chest with pistols. The restaurant was packed with customers at the time. The assailants escaped after the incident.

The restaurant employees rushed Arya to a local hospital from where doctors referred him

ALOK ARYA WAS SITTING AT THE OFFICE OF THE RESTAURANT WHEN THE ALLEGED CRIMINALS SHOT HIM IN THE CHEST WITH PISTOLS

to Trauma Centre, Lucknow.

The incident was recorded by CCTV cameras installed in the restaurant, the police said.

Deputy inspector general Omkar Singh said the criminals who shot at Arya were identified as Saurabh Singh alias Chotu and Raman Singh and Satya Prakash Singh alias Phufa.

Police team was constituted to nab them, he said

Acting on a tip-off, the police on Monday arrested Saurabh Singh alias Chotu near Tudai crossing while he was trying to escape in an SUV.

Saurabh was being interrogated and the other accused wil be arrested soon, he said.

After the incident, the BJP leaders and office bearers of traders’ organisations assembled at the restaurant. The angry traders shouted slogan against the district administration. They said the police had failed to check criminal elements.

Extra police force was deployed at the spot and the officers tried to pacify the angry traders, asking them not to give weight to rumours on the social media.