Lawyer shot dead in Allahabad
Allahabad, May 10: A lawyer was shot dead in broad daylight here on Thursday, triggering protests and violence by his colleagues, police said.
The lawyer, Rajesh Srivastava, was going to the court when he was intercepted by unidentified bike-borne assailants near the Manmohan Park in Allahabad and was shot at. He died on the spot.
Angered over the killing of their colleague, lawyers went on the rampage, brick batting with the police, vandalising government property and setting afire a car and a bus.
The murder happened when the Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh and Chief Secretary Rajeev Kumar were on a day-long visit to the city.
Additional police forces and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed to prevent an escalation of violence, an official told here.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter to express his dismay at the killing. He tweeted that law and order under the watch of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had touched a new low in the state.
"The BJP government has made blood flow all across the state, people are afraid and feeling suffocated... they want to get rid of this government" he said.
There has been no arrest after the killing, and the lawyers were squatting on the road along with the body of the deceased lawyer.
Only two days back a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, considered close to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, was shot dead.
The 35-year-old Pawan Kesari was a BJP corporator.
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Beauty of democracy: Tharoor congratulates BJP on civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the "beauty of democracy".
In a post on X, he said the people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in his constituency.
"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections! The mandate is clear, and the democratic spirit of the state shines through.
"A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020," Tharoor said.
He said he also acknowledges the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and "offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation - a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape."
Tharoor said he campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF "misrule", but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.
"That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.
"We will continue to work for the betterment of Kerala, advocating for the people's needs and upholding the principles of good governance. Onwards and upwards!" Tharoor, who is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.
The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body.
The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls, especially in the state capital.
Of the 101 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two wards were won by independent candidates.
The BJP is one seat short of a decisive majority in the corporation.
Besides this, the NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with the Congress-led UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
In Thrissur, from where Suresh Gopi won in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP won 18 out of the 46 wards in Kodungallur Municipality, eight in Thrissur Corporation, two each in Guruvayoor and Vadakkancherry municipalities, seven in Kunnamkulam Municipality, six in Irinjalakuda Municipality and one in Chalakudy Municipality.
