Assailants continue to elude STF men

THE STF probing the murder of Sant Gyaneshwar and his seven followers may have identified most of the members of the Purvanchal-based gang involved in the shoot-out. But, the speed with which the assailants have changed their hideouts and vehicles has made it difficult for the sleuths to track them down. The STF got a taste of the killers? modus operandi following the recovery of a Sumo Victa from the murder site. After ensuring the death of the seer, the gang abandoned this vehicle bearing the registration number of a scooter in Lucknow.

THE SPECIAL Task Force probing the murder of Sant Gyaneshwar and his seven followers may have identified most of the members of the Purvanchal-based gang involved in the shoot-out.

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But, the speed with which the assailants have changed their hideouts and vehicles has made it difficult for the sleuths to track them down.

The STF got a taste of the killers’ modus operandi following the recovery of a Sumo Victa from the murder site. After ensuring the death of the seer, the gang abandoned this vehicle bearing the registration number of a scooter in Lucknow. The vehicle was purchased recently in the name of a third party and was left at the site to mislead the police and gain time to escape to a safer place.
Another problem the STF faced was the unresponsiveness of villagers near the site.

Shooters from Jaunpur and Azamgarh were reportedly roped in by a Varanasi- based don, who himself directed the entire operation, said a policeman on condition of anonymity.

A contract was given for the murder of Sant Gyaneshwar. Seven others who had no enemies were also killed.

The seer was a named accused in the case.

However, despite a named FIR, the police were finding it difficult to arrest the MLA, in the absence of any evidence of his involvement in the case, sources said.

The MLA’s alleged involvement was purely on the basis of presumption and suspicion. Even the seer’s brother, who had named the MLA, had nothing to substantiate his claim, said sources.