Miscreants shot dead a 60-year-old man in Baijnathha area, under the Bhelupur police station, on Saturday. Police have launched a search for the assailants. The cause of murder is stated to be old enmity. A family member of the victim lodged an FIR with police.
The deceased has been identified as Prem Narain alias Chhedi Lal Gupta, father of jailed criminal Santosh alias Kittu. Santosh had allegedly shot dead another criminal Anurag Tripathi, a close associate of absconding mafia don Munna Bajrangi, in the Central jail in Varanasi a year and a half ago.
Prem Narain, a resident of the Nai Basti area under Luxa police station, was engaged in the construction material trade. In keeping with his daily routine, he was on a morning walk in the Baijnathha area where motorcycle-borne youths shot him at point-blank range.
Prem Narain was hit by at least six bullets. While the assailants fled, locals rushed Prem Narain to the district hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Prem Narain's son Santosh had killed Anurag as the latter had killed a jailed Samajwadi Party cooperator Banshi Yadav in the visitors' gallery of the district jail four years ago. Banshi was a friend of Santosh. Santosh is in Faizabad jail nowadays.