The central leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday stepped in and cracked the whip against MLA Surendra Singh over his statements regarding the firing incident in Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP National President JP Nadda has asked party's Uttar Pradesh chief Swatantra Dev Singh to convey it to the MLA to stay away from the probe, ANI reported, quoting sources.
This comes a day after the MLA met UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh in Lucknow after being summoned over his statements in connection with the Ballia incident.
Dhirendra Pratap Singh, a local BJP leader and an aide of Surendra Singh allegedly shot dead a man during the allotment of ration shops. He was arrested on Sunday and was produced before a court on Monday. He has been sent to 14 days judicial custody by Chief Judicial Magistrate of Ballia district court.
On October 16, a day after the incident, the BJP MLA condemned the "one-sided" investigation of the administration.
"BJP National President JP Nadda spoke with UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh, expressing his displeasure over statements of MLA Surendra Singh regarding Ballia incident. He asked the party's UP chief to convey it to MLA Surendra Singh to stay away from the probe," BJP sources told ANI.
"The incident is upsetting. It should not have taken place but I condemn the one-sided investigation of the administration. Nobody is looking at the pain of six women who have been injured in the incident. Dhirendra Singh fired in self-defence," Surendra had said.
"How can I deny that he is my close associate? Not only mine, but he is also a close associate of BJP as his family votes for us and he worked for us in polls. Everyone who votes for us is a close associate. But I decry the incident and administration's one-sided probe," he had added.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested the main accused Dhirendra Pratap from Lucknow in connection with the Ballia firing case on Sunday.
He has reportedly told police that he fired in self-defence and claimed the other side started the quarrel.
The Uttar Pradesh Police had on Saturday said it would invoke the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangsters Act against the accused.
Under the NSA, one can be detained without a charge for up to 12 months if authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to national security or law and order.
Under the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, a district magistrate can order attachment of property, whether movable or immovable, if there is a reason to believe that it has been acquired as a commission for an offence triable under this law.
He was earlier booked under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 323, 352,504,506, and 7CLA act police station Rewati, Ballia, said Prashant Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
(With agencies)
