4 held for Pandit's murder; killing due to old enmity: Police

Four persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Pandit, police said on Wednesday, claiming that the killing was the result of an "old enmity".

"Jitu, Sunny and two sharp shooters have been arrested in connection with murder of Vijay Pandit," said DIG K Satya Narayan, briefing the media here.

"The sharp shooters are Ankit Gujjar and Annee," he said.

The murder was planned by five persons -- Jitu, Sunny, Ashok, Gagan and Bholu. They had contacted Sunder Bhati and Anil Dujana gangs for its execution, the DIG said.

Ankit Gujjar is from the Sunder Bhati gang while Annee belongs to the Anil Dujana gang, he said.

The enmity between Vijay Pandit and the accused dates back to 2012.

"On September 12, 2012, Vijay Pandit's close associate Ravinder Sharma was shot dead in Dadri. Ashok, Gagan, Bholu, Jitu and Sunny were made accused in the murder case.

"Violent clashes had taken place then against the murder and several houses were set ablaze. Vijay Pandit was made an accused for burning the houses of the accused," the DIG said.

"Police had arrested the five accused. But they got bail in August 2013. They then managed to convince Sharma's family to withdraw the case. Some settlement was reached between them and the family was ready for this.

"However, Vijay Pandit was opposing this and telling Sharma's family not to make any settlement with the accused.

"This made the accused angry and they with the help of Anil Dujana and Sunder Bhati gang members, hatched the plan to kill Pandit," he said.

"On June 7, they assembled at a school in Dadri and drank liquor. When they saw Pandit coming back from his brother's shop, they positioned themselves near a temple on GT Road.

"As Pandit reached there, they sprayed bullets at him. They had fired five shots. They had covered their faces with cloth.

"A motorcycle was abandoned by them. Through the RTO office, it was found that motorcycle was registered in the name of Umesh, brother of Annee, a member of Anil Dujana gang," Narayan said. Raids were conducted at several places and the accused were arrested, he said.

On interrogation, they confessed to have killed Pandit due to enmity, the officer added.

Meanwhile, Pandit's family members are protesting on GT Road demanding a CBI probe in the case.

Pandit, husband of Dadri Nagar Panchayat chairperson Geeta, was shot dead by four persons in Dadri on the night of June 7.

Image: Vijay Pandit