Former block chief convicted in 2016 murder over poll rivalry

Lucknow: A local court in Ambedkar Nagar convicted former Katehari block pramukh Ajay Pratap Singh alias Ajay Sipahi, along with 2 others, in the 2016 killing of Sultanpur resident Mansharam over village election rivalry.The verdict was delivered by the court of additional district and sessions judge (ADJ-I), which held Ajay Sipahi, Mulayam Yadav, and Ajay Kumar Yadav guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder. Following the conviction, all 3 were taken into judicial custody and sent to jail. The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on Feb 24. Another accused in the case was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
The incident took place on March 23, 2016, in Loknathpur village under Mahrua police station limits. Mansharam's aunt, Chandrawati, lodged a complaint stating that on the morning of the incident, Mulayam Yadav and Ajay Kumar lured Mansharam from his home on the pretext of offering him paan and took him to Mahrua.When Mansharam failed to return home by afternoon, his family began searching for him. They later learned he went to a feast in Loknathpur village. Despite extensive efforts, he could not be traced. Rumours of gunshots in the area further raised suspicion.The next morning, on March 24, Mansharam's body was recovered near the Bhevapar minor canal in Mahrua. He sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen.Investigations revealed that the murder stemmed from political enmity linked to the 2015 gram pradhan elections. Mulayam Yadav, who contested the polls, allegedly held Mansharam responsible for his defeat, as the latter supported a rival candidate.A complaint filed by Mansharam's uncle, Om Prakash Yadav, before the DIG Faizabad on March 26, 2016, brought Ajay Sipahi's name into the case. He alleged that his nephew was taken to the under-construction house of Ajay Sipahi in Loknathpur, where the accused shot him dead.