Man shot dead, bro injured in poll feud violence in Mathura

Agra: A 25-year-old man, son of a rival village politician, was allegedly shot dead and his younger brother injured during indiscriminate firing purportedly linked to an election rivalry in Mathura district on Sunday evening.The violence erupted in Nandla Neta village under Jait police station area, where the houses of sitting village head, Yogesh Singh, and his rival, Udai Veer Singh, are located opposite each other. Police said tensions between the two sides escalated following a series of confrontations in the run-up to local body polls.The deceased, Radhakishan, had been assaulted earlier on Friday at Raal crossing and had narrowly escaped serious injury. He later submitted a complaint at Jait police station on Sunday, alleging threats from the village head's side. The complaint, police said, further intensified hostilities between the two groups.Officials said around 6.30pm on Sunday, armed assailants allegedly linked to the pradhan's camp attacked Udai Veer Singh's house. Family members were beaten with sticks before the attackers opened fire. Radhakishan was shot in the head, while his brother Anil, 23, sustained a gunshot injury to his hand.The brothers were rushed to the district hospital, where Radhakishan succumbed to his injuries. Anil is undergoing treatment and is stated to be out of danger.SP City Rajeev Kumar Singh ordered additional personnel be deployed to prevent further escalation. Police said four people from the pradhan's side have been taken into custody.An FIR has been registered against village head Yogesh Singh, his brother Naresh, nephews Amit and Dinesh, and others under relevant sections of the BNS.Udai Veer Singh alleged that earlier complaints, including an assault during Raksha Bandhan, were not acted upon due to "political pressure". "Had the police acted impartially after our earlier complaints, my son's life could have been saved," the SP said.Family members allege tensions between the two sides date back to the previous pradhan election, when Udai Veer Singh's family supported a rival candidate. With the panchayat polls approaching, the simmering hostility resurfaced and turned violent.