Cong leader's killing sparks violence

A former president of the district Congress was shot dead in Allahabad, sparking violence in which party activists fought a pitched battle with the police.

A former president of the district Congress was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad, sparking violence in which party activists fought a pitched battle with the police, attempted to torch a police station and set afire two State Roadways buses, a police official said Sunday.

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"The former district president of the Congress, V. Tiwari, was sprayed with bullets late Saturday night at his residence," L. Shukla, senior superintendent of police of Allahabad, told IANS by telephone.

The motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead Tiwari and fled from the spot, he added.

Agitated over Tiwari's murder, the Congress activists Sunday fought a pitched battle with the police and also set fire to two State Roadways buses and other private vehicles, the police said.

The police resorted to a baton charge, in which three people were injured. The police also opened fire in the air to disperse the mob.

"The activists carried out wild demonstrations in the Kowrao locality of the district," said Shukla.

Agitated activists also attempted to torch the Kowrao police station, he added.

According to the police, the incident in Allahabad, about 200 km from here, appears to be a fallout of political rivalry.