A lawyer, Rajeev Singh, was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur while on a morning walk, and CCTV captured the killers struggling to flee as their motorcycle failed to start despite repeated desperate pedal kicks in the chaos.
A lawyer named Rajeev Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district while he was out on a morning walk on Friday.
Singh, who was 40 years old, hailed from Devaru village. He is reported to be the husband of the village head (Pradhan).
According to reports, CCTV footage shows two men arriving on a motorcycle at the location. One of them got off and opened fire at Singh using a crude pistol before both men fled the scene together.
The Kotwali Katra Police have taken Singh’s body into custody and are conducting the inquest (panchayatnama) as well as a post-mortem examination.
Based on a complaint received from the deceased lawyer’s family, a case has been registered, and investigation is underway.
Mirzapur Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik said that the victim and the accused are from the same village, and that the incident appears to have been triggered by a local dispute.
In CCTV footage recorded the following Saturday morning, the two men are seen approaching 40-year-old senior advocate Rajiv Singh, who was walking outside. One of the men dismounts and fires at him with a crude pistol, killing Singh on the spot. Afterward, as he moves back to the motorcycle, the rider repeatedly kicks the pedal in an attempt to start the vehicle, but it does not start.
Police said a case has been registered and that five teams have been formed to arrest the accused.
A senior police officer told reporters,
“Preliminary indications suggest that the dispute may have stemmed from issues or conflicts arising within the village itself. However, we are currently examining all angles and conducting a thorough, in-depth investigation. We will ensure that the strictest possible legal action is taken against the individual responsible for committing this crime,”
She said,
“Our team has obtained highly credible leads in this matter and is actively pursuing the investigation,”
Singh had earlier submitted an application, stating that he feared he could be attacked. The former village head, who is also an advocate, has reportedly been attacked on two previous occasions.
