Teotia attack: Cops zero in on missing suspects in UP

Teams of Uttar Pradesh police and Special Task Force are zeroing in on the remaining accused involved in the attack of BJP leader Brijpal Teotia, sources said.

Teams of Uttar Pradesh police and Special Task Force are zeroing in on the remaining accused involved in the attack of BJP leader Brijpal Teotia, sources said.

Teotia was attacked by seven men in a Fortuner SUV on Rawli Road in Murad Nagar town of Ghaziabad on August 11. The group used AK-47 rifle and other automatic weapons during the attack but Teotia and his aides survived. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Teotia was attacked by seven men in a Fortuner SUV on Rawli Road in Murad Nagar town of Ghaziabad on August 11. The group used AK-47 rifle and other automatic weapons during the attack but Teotia and his aides survived.

The officials of UP-STF, who are also a part of the probe, said that several teams were sent to Rajasthan and Haryana to investigate the case. Inspector general (IG) Sujit Pandey on Wednesday had said that teams were also sent to another state to trace the accused as well as the origin of the AK-47 rifle used in the incident.

“We are close to locating prime suspects Manish and Manoj. There is a high probability that the remaining accused are in UP,” Amit Pathak, senior superintendent of police (SSP – UP-STF), said.

Sources involved in the investigation said that Manish wanted to avenge his father’s (Suresh Diwan’s) death as Brijpal Teotia was named in the FIR lodged in 1999 at Delhi. The police had given Teotia a clean chit in the case.

“Manish got involved in an altercation at his village some time back and was rebuked by villagers. They had taunted him saying that he could not even avenge his father’s death. Later, Manish roped in Manoj and his brother-in-law Sansar Singh to help with the attack,” a police source said.

Sources said that police are also zeroing in on another suspect, who is a wrestler from Gautam Budh Nagar and associated with a renowned ‘Akhara’ in Delhi.

The sources said that the suspect got involved in the conspiracy as he wanted to avenge his brother’s death, which took place at Bulandshahr in 2013. Sources said that his brother was bludgeoned to death during an altercation.

“The suspect wanted to avenge his brother’s death and became a part of the conspiracy led by Manish and Manoj. In return, he wanted the group to help him out in his vendetta,” the source said.

The UP police on Wednesday arrested four of the twelve members involved in planning the conspiracy and leading the attack. Presently eight persons, including prime suspects Manish and Manoj, are absconding.

The police suspect that more persons could be involved behind and investigations are on to trace them.