CRIME: Three alleged hitmen arrested for murder of famed astrologer and priest

Lucknow, Nov 21 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Police Wednesday claimed to have arrested three “contract killers” involved in the sensational murder of the family priest of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Almost a week after the shocking killing of famous astrologer and high−profile priest Pandit Ramesh Tiwari in Jaunpur, the state police claimed he was bumped off by contract killers.

The Additional Director General of Police Law and Order Arun Kumar told reporters that a special task force had zeroed in on eight contract killers and three − Virendra Dadhi, Vijay Bahadur and Kaushal Kishore − have been arrested.

He did not divulge any theories behind the gruesome killing.

The killing was ordered by Amit aka Pandit and Bachai Upadhya − both belonging to Sarpataha in Jaunpur, he said.

Tiwari was shot dead last week by unidentified assailants in Jaunpur district.

The astrologer, who had a big following among politicians and bureaucrats in the state, was sitting outside his house in the Sarpataha area with his brother Rajesh Tiwari when unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately at him.