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Shops closed over killing of BJP leader

Staff Correspondent

Students block roads in protest in Bageshwar

DEHRA DUN: Students blocked roads and commercial establishments remained closed in Bageshwar on Thursday in protest against the killing of the Municipal Board chairman and State vice-president of the Anusuchit Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Ramesh Lal Johri, in his office allegedly by Kundan Dayal Narayan Das, son of former Minister and BJP leader, Narayan Ram Das, on Wednesday evening.

The accused later surrendered at the Kotwali police station. Kundan entered the office of Mr Johri when he was holding a meeting and asked others to leave as he wanted to talk to him in private.

He pounced upon Mr. Johri as soon as the others left and stabbed him several times. The employees rushed to the room on hearing Mr. Johri's cries and managed to save him from the assailant. He, however, died on the way to hospital.

Kundan later surrendered at the Kotwali and allegedly said that he had killed Mr Johri as he was a political rival of his father and had tried to quarrel with him (Narayan Ram Das) several times in the recent past, officials said, adding that security around the family of Mr Johri had been strengthened. The State BJP president and former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiary, who rushed to Bageshwar, has urged the partymen to maintain their cool. "It is highly unfortunate that an upcoming and gentle leader like Mr Johri had been killed by the son of a party colleague. Mr Narayan Ram Das has been suspended from the party and suitable action will be taken against him. It is also hoped the police will take appropriate action against the accused who was also involved in serious crimes in Lucknow", Mr. Koshiary told The Hindu over phone.

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Shops closed over killing of BJP leader

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