DSP murder: Critical questions remain unanswered

Lucknow: A CBI team on Friday reached Pratapgarh where DSP Zia-ul-Haq and two others were murdered. They have named Kunda MLA and former UP minister Raja Bhaiya as the main accused in one of the four FIRs. The ten-member CBI probe team will be collecting details from the chief medical officer of Pratapgarh on Zia-ul-Haq's post-mortem report.

Sources say that if needed, the CBI will order a second autopsy on the body of the slain police officer and will question other police officers as well.

However, one week on, there are a number of critical questions that remain unanswered.

Since the initial police call shows the situation was serious, why was DSP Zia-ul-Haq dispatched without additional forces?

- Why is the police silent on what weapon was used in the shooting of Zia Ul Haque? And were Haque and the Gram Pradhan Nanhe Yadav killed by the same weapon?

While the DSP's service weapon is missing, the Gram Pradhan was shot by .315 bore weapn. Police sources say they are also searching for a .30 bore handgun.

- Since the initial police call shows the situation was serious, why was DSP Haq dispatched without additional forces?

Three police officers have been suspended for deserting the Circle Officer during the crisis. Five others are being investigated.

- Did the police correctly investigate the motive behind the Pradhan's murder?

Sources say the police believe a land dispute is at the heart of the Pradahan's murder.

Police sources say that Balipur has over 14 licensed weapons but it is silent on whether the weapons have been accounted for after Haq's murder. The UP Police has indicated that the possibility of the DSP being killed by a prohibited weapon cannot be ruled out. With the CBI beginning its investigations, we now have to wait and see if they are able to find answers to these disturbing questions.

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