Personal assistant, two others arrested for BJP leader's murder

Greater Noida: The UP Special Task Force, in a joint operation with Gautam Buddh Nagar Police, arrested three persons in connection with the killing of BJP leader Shiv Kumar Yadav, his driver and his personal security guard in Noida Extension on November 16. Police said that the murder was a result of old personal enmity and some sharp shooters from the gang of dreaded criminal Sunder Bhati were hired to kill the BJP leader.

The arrested have been identified as Arun Yadav, a native of Bahlolpur in Noida, Dharamdutt Sharma alias Sonu and a sharpshooter of Sunder Bhati gang, Naresh Teotia. Police have recovered the Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle and the weapon used in crime from the possession of the criminals.

"In 2004, Arun Yadav's father was killed in a road accident but he believed that his father was murdered by Shiv Kumar Yadav, who made it look like an accident. Since then he decided to take revenge and contacted Anil Bhati, Sunder Bhati's nephew, to kill Shiv Kumar. Anil Bhati provided sharpshooters to kill Shiv Kumar and was promised Rs 10 lakhs by Arun upon successful killing," said Love Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Buddh Nagar.

"Acting on a tip-off, we arrested Naresh Teotia from Bisrakh area following a gunbattle. During interrogation, the accused told police about the involvement of other persons in the crime. Police teams successfully conducted raids at various suspected locations and nabbed two others in connection with the triple murder incident," said Raj Kumar Mishra, deputy superintendent of police, Special Task Force.

Sonu is a personal assistant to Arun Yadav and was involved in keeping an eye on the movements of Shiv Kumar before his murder. "We have registered a case under IPC sections 307 and section 25 Arms act against the accused in Bisrakh police station and investigations are underway," added Mishra.

The 35-year-old BJP leader, his driver and his security guard were shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Bisrakh area of Greater Noida West in broad day light. In the incident, the driver lost control over the car which rammed into a 14-year-old girl who also succumbed to the injuries in the hospital.