Tuesday, November 29 2005 18:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ghazipur (UP): A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and six of his supporters were shot dead near Baswania village under Bhawaronpur police circle in the district today (Nov 29, 2005).

The procession of the BJP legislator from Mohammadabad, Krishnanand Rai, was going to attend a wedding function when they were sprayed with gunfire from members of a rival group lying in wait near the village, police said.

Rai and his supporters, who were also armed, fired in retaliation but were outnumbered and killed on the spot.

Prima facie, it appeared to be a case of a gang war, they said adding that the site of attack was on the cusp of Ballia district.

Rai allegedly had a bitter rivalry with controversial Independent MLA from neighbouring Mau district Mukhtar Ansari and there had been clashes between the two groups in the past, they said.

Senior police and civil officials had reached the spot.

Shops and business establishments in Ghazipur town downed their shutters as the news of Rai's killing spread.

"The bodies of Rai and his slain supporters have been taken to his native village Gonaura and placed outside his residence," the sources said.

A large number of people had assembled in the village after hearing the news of Rai's killing and the situation was stated to be tense, they said.

"Security personnel had been rushed to the village to maintain order," the sources said, adding, "Senior officials were monitoring the situation."