Mystery shrouds sand trader?s death

Mystery shrouds the death of Vijay Mahara (45), a famous name in the business of sand mining, who was found lying dead at Mahewa ghat in Naini on Sunday around 11.30 am with a gun shot injury in his neck.

Mystery shrouds the death of Vijay Mahara (45), a famous name in the business of sand mining, who was found lying dead at Mahewa ghat in Naini on Sunday around 11.30 am with a gun shot injury in his neck.

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Although he was dead but his family members called for medical aid in the hope of reviving him. The Naini police which rushed to the spot on getting the news of murder later brought the body to the mortuary for autopsy.

Ajai Bhan, Vijay's gunner and body guard, who always used to remain with him had reportedly been sent for some personal work by the deceased. There were three accountants, a tractor driver and a 'tentwala' on the spot when the bullet pierced his neck. However, till late in the evening no one had come out with any revelation to throw light on the mystery behind the murder.

Another youth Baua, a close relative of the deceased, who used to drive his Scorpio vehicle had reportedly gone away somewhere when the murder took place.

One of the accountants who reportedly heard the sound of gun fire ran to Vijay's house to inform about the incident after seeing him in a pool of blood.
Vijay was reportedly in the business in partnership with BJP MLA Udai Bhan Karwaria for the past one and a half decades.

Surprisingly, the gunner who was a close confidante of the deceased did not turn up even after the news of murder spread like wild fire in the area and people rushed to the mortuary.

One of the six sons of Gulab Mahara, another name in the sand business, Vijay had made a fortune from sand trade.

Though the family has many enemies but they had not opened their mouth till late in the evening. There were rumours that Vijay had shot himself but the same were rubbished by close relatives and family friends.