Ghaziabad: Two held for double murder in Bamheta over poll rivalry

The two arrested in the Ghaziabad double murder case are accused of arranging weapons and hatching a conspiracy with the former councillor

The Ghaziabad police on Thursday arrested two men who gunned down two men in Bamheta village in Ghaziabad on the night of June 8. The double murder was the fallout of a rivalry between two groups who were vying to contest the upcoming local body elections, the police said.

Two persons, Jugni and Joginder, were gunned down in Bamheta village on the night of June 8. (Sakib Ali/HT FILE)

The police arrested Girish and Kapil Yadav, who were named in the FIR after the incident. They were accused of arranging weapons and opening fire on the rival group. The men had used .30 calibre weapons and fired indiscriminately on the group causing the death of Joginder and Jugni.

“The two are prime accused in the case. They planned the shooting with former councillor Phool Kunwar who was not present at the spot. He was arrested later. He was earlier with the other group. Later, he switched sides and planned to eliminate the members of his former group ,” said Akash Tomar, superintendent of police (city).

The two groups have a history of enmity going back to time when they contested the last local body election. Both their candidates had lost those elections.

Phool Kunwar, according to the police, wanted to contest the upcoming election and wanted to get rid of the rival group which was also trying to field their candidate.

The two victims, Joginder and Jugni, along with their cousin and relatives were returning late night after a ‘jagran’ (all-night prayer meeting) and were cornered in a bylane in Bamheta around midnight by the rival group. Theyw ere fired upon indiscriminately and both men died on the spot.

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“So far, we have arrested a total of five persons in connection with the case. Legal proceedings were also initiated against the absconders. There are three more persons whose role is being scanned. In case they are involved, they too will be arrested soon,” Tomar said.

Bamheta village, adjacent to NH-24 near Kavi Nagar Industrial Area, is famous for its wrestlers and is a Yadav community stronghold.