Pilibhit (UP): Police shot dead a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, taking him to be a criminal when he was returning home at a village in this district, police sources said on August 11.

Police personnel opened fire on BJP leader Balraj Singh while he was returning home with his two friends at Tanda Vijeshi village after visiting a relative on August 10 evening, they said. Singh died on the spot, they added.

The police mistook them for criminals and opened fire, according to the sources.

Resenting the killing, hundreds of villagers gathered at Singh's residence and did not allow cremation of the body, they said, adding security personnel had been deployed in strength to maintain law and order at the village.

The situation was stated to be tense but under control. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against a station house officer and a constable, said the sources.

PTI