The police have ruled out any Maoist hand in the attack on Minister for Institutional Finance Nand Kumar Gupta (33) in Allahabad on Monday, and are shadowing a Samajwadi Party MLA for investigation.
However, the anti-terrorist squad and the special task force have not been able to make any major breakthrough so far.
“There has been no progress in (cracking) the case,” said Additional Director General (Law and Order) Brijlal in Lucknow on Tuesday. He said there had been no arrest either.
Brijlal said the device used in the blast was not of the kind that the Maoists used. “I have also spoken to other states facing the Maoist problem on the issue but there was no evidence,” he said.
The minister, an MLA from Allahabad (South), has been flown to Lucknow for treatment. “The condition of the minister is stable,” said R.K. Sharma, director, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow.
The Indian Express journalist has been flown to New Delhi and is said to be critical.
The police are hoping to shed light on the murder attempt by interrogating jailed mafia leader-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad’s brother Ashraf and SP MLA Vijay Mishra. Ashraf and Mishra are reportedly in Mumbai. “They may have developed common interests that conflicted with those of the minister,” said a police officer.
{{/usCountry}}The police are hoping to shed light on the murder attempt by interrogating jailed mafia leader-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad’s brother Ashraf and SP MLA Vijay Mishra. Ashraf and Mishra are reportedly in Mumbai. “They may have developed common interests that conflicted with those of the minister,” said a police officer.
{{/usCountry}}Mishra and Gupta have business interests. Mishra’s concern has of late been going downhill. Gupta’s family runs the Nandi industry group.