Leading Hindu organisation leader shot dead in UP

NEW DELHI: A senior leader of a leading Hindu organisation Hindu Mahasabha was killed by unidentified assailants in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, early on Sunday, said media reports.

Identified as Ranjeet Bachchan, he was shot at while he was having a morning walk outside his residence in Uttar Pradesh's capital city Lucknow. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to the injuries. Bachchan's brother also received a bullet injury in the incident, media reports said, and added that he was undergoing treatment in a local hospital. Further reports are awaited.

Ranjit Bachchan killed to muzzle Hindutva, says Vishva Hindu Mahasabha leader's wife. Meanwhile, the Lucknow Police has formed six teams to solve the murder case which took place in broad daylight on Sunday. CCTV footage of the murder suspect has also been released and the police have announced a reward of Rs50,000 for any information about the suspect's whereabouts.

Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha leader Ranjit Bachchan's wife has claimed that her husband was constantly receiving threatening calls and messages from radical groups.

Ranjit Bachchan's wife Kalindi said, "My husband has been killed by those who want to muzzle the ideology of the Hindutva. They earlier killed Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari and now my husband has also been brutally murdered."

"Ranjit didn't file a police complaint on the threats he was receiving. He was confident that he will never be harmed under the Yogi Adityanath government. We lost our child a few years ago and now, I have suffered another unbearable pain. The perpetrators behind this brutal murder should be arrested soon and the strictest possible action should be taken against them," Bachchan's wife said.

Meanwhile, submitting a memorandum to the district administration, the Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha has demanded financial assistance of Rs50 lakh, a government accommodation, job and security for Ranjeet Bachchan's wife.