Prayagraj Police arrest three suspects in daylight murder of SP leader Pawan Yadav. (Img: Dynamite News)
Prayagraj: Police have arrested three suspects in the murder of Samajwadi Party youth leader and former village head Pawan Yadav in Handia. Investigators claim a personal dispute was behind the killing and have recovered the motorcycle allegedly used in the attack along with two country-made pistols.
The arrests have brought a major breakthrough in the Prayagraj murder case, which triggered panic after Pawan Yadav was shot in broad daylight near a location reportedly just 500 metres from the police station.
Pawan Yadav, 38, was in the Handia area of Prayagraj on Tuesday when three motorcycle-borne attackers allegedly approached him and opened fire. According to the police investigation, the incident took place near pillar number 52, where Pawan was reportedly speaking with acquaintances. The attackers allegedly arrived on a single motorcycle before one of them fired at him.
The bullet struck Pawan in the back. He collapsed after the shooting and was rushed to hospital by local people, but doctors declared him dead. The incident sent shockwaves through the area, with the broad-daylight nature of the killing triggering concern among residents and political supporters.
Police have identified the arrested suspects as Lalla Yadav, Brijesh Yadav and Nihal Ali. According to the police version, Nihal Ali was riding the motorcycle, Brijesh Yadav was seated in the middle and Lalla Yadav was sitting at the rear.
Police have alleged that Lalla Yadav fired the shot at Pawan during the attack. Investigators subsequently traced the suspects using CCTV footage and other evidence collected during the probe.
Police teams had been conducting searches and questioning people in the area since the shooting. Senior officers also visited the crime scene as investigators worked to establish the identity and movements of the attackers.
The biggest development in the investigation is the alleged motive. Police have claimed that preliminary questioning of Lalla Yadav pointed towards a personal dispute with Pawan Yadav. Investigators have also alleged that the attack was planned before the shooting.
According to the police, around Rs 20,000 was spent on purchasing two country-made pistols and cartridges allegedly used or intended for the crime. The arrested suspects are being questioned about the planning of the attack, the source of the weapons and whether other people were involved.
However, the alleged motive and other claims made during the investigation remain subject to verification through evidence and the legal process.
The police reconstruction of the incident has highlighted the alleged use of a single motorcycle by all three suspects. Investigators believe the motorcycle was used to reach the location and escape after the shooting. Police have now claimed to have recovered the vehicle as part of the investigation.
The recovery could help investigators corroborate the movements of the suspects before and after the shooting. CCTV footage from the area is also being examined to establish the route taken by the motorcycle.
After the murder, police teams began examining CCTV cameras installed around the crime scene and nearby routes. Investigators also questioned people who were present in the area and collected information about the movement of the attackers.
The CCTV trail and other evidence reportedly helped police narrow down the suspects before their arrests. Police are now expected to examine the footage alongside forensic evidence, witness statements and other material collected during the investigation.
An important detail emerged from the family’s initial account following the murder. Pawan’s brother Brijesh Yadav had said that Pawan left home after receiving a call. At that stage, the family had denied any known family dispute or old rivalry and had not suspected a particular motive.
The police investigation later pointed towards an alleged personal dispute involving Pawan and one of the arrested suspects. The contrasting accounts have added another layer to the case, with investigators now working to establish what happened in the hours leading up to the shooting.
Pawan Yadav was a resident of Mungrawan village in the Handia area. He was associated with the Samajwadi Party and had served as a party district secretary and former village head. His death triggered grief among his family members, supporters and local political workers.
After the body was taken for post-mortem examination, a large number of Samajwadi Party leaders and supporters gathered at the mortuary. Pawan was the younger of two brothers. He is survived by his wife Neetu, three daughters and a son.
The fact that the shooting reportedly took place around 500 metres from the police station has become a major talking point in the aftermath of the incident.
The broad-daylight killing of a local political figure has raised questions among residents about security arrangements and the movement of armed assailants in the area. The incident also created tension in the locality as police increased activity and began searches for those responsible.
With three arrests and the reported recovery of weapons and the motorcycle, investigators are now trying to establish the complete chain of events. Police is probing CCTV footage, forensic evidence, witness statements and call-related information, as also the alleged source of the weapons. It is alo establishing whether the arrested suspects got help from anyone else.
Police claim that personal rivalry was the motive remains part of the ongoing probe, and the final facts will depend on the evidence collected and the subsequent judicial process.
