BSP govt disowns Hanuman Sharan Shukla

Lucknow: The BSP government in Uttar Pradesh today disowned Hanuman Sharan Shukla, who was shot dead during an agitation, saying he was not a member of the party but a history sheeter, having 21 criminal cases against him.

"Shukla was a history sheeter having 21 criminal cases, including those of murder against him and investigation so far had revealed that he was shot dead over old rivalry and police has arrested two persons in this connection," Principal secretary Home, Kunwar Fateh Bahadur told reporters.

"As per our information Shukla was neither a member of the BSP nor he was in any of the party's committee," he added.

Shukla was shot dead on the dias by unidentified person in Gonda district during BSP's agitation against Women Reservation Bill on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti yesterday.

The incident occurred in the presence of more than one dozen senior BSP leaders, including sitting MLAs, and it was said that Shukla was president of Tarabganj unit of the party.

"Shukla, who was a hardcore criminal, was shot dead over old rivalry," Bahadur said.