Munna Bajrangi murder: Pistol recovered; reason behind killing unknown

Mafia don Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was killed by gangster Sunil Rathia inside district jail in Baghpat on Monday following an altercation.

During questioning, Rathi told the police he shot Bajrangi after an altercation took place between the two in the morning when both were out of their cell for having tea.

When Bajrangi put the pistol on Rathi's chest after a heated exchange, he shot him with the same weapon, police said.

The police have recovered the weapon from a septic tank of the jail. Ten empty shells of a .762 bore weapon and some live cartridges were recovered from inside the district jail.

Bajrangi was kept in a cell with 10 other inmates, including Rathi. The 51-year-old criminal was shot ten times and then his body was dumped into a gutter inside the prison premises.

Considering the major loophole in security arrangements, four jail officials, including the jailer and Deputy Jailer, were suspended soon after the incident.

Bajrangi was transferred with full security from Jhansi to Baghpat jail yesterday and was to be produced in a local court today in a case of demanding extortion money from former BSP MLA Lokesh Dixit in 2017.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the killing of 51-year-old Bajrangi, who was listed as an accused in 40 criminal cases, including those of murder and extortion, "serious" and ordered a probe.

Bajrangi's wife Seema Singh, who had called a press conference 10 days ago on June 29 to allege that her husband's life was in danger, has demanded a CBI probe.

"I want to tell UP Chief Minister Adityanathji that a conspiracy is being hatched to kill him in a fake encounter," Seema had told reporters in Lucknow on June 29.