Spice trader's guard shot dead during heated argument

A security personnel of spice trader and former Samajwadi Party leader Rajesh Masala died today after he and another guard exchanged fire during a heated argument here, police said.
Gulab Singh (55) got into a heated argument with another guard Ramesh Singh, following which an exchange of fire took place between the two, Circle Officer R K Chaturvedi said.
Both Gulab and Ramesh along with another security guard, who was standing near the spot, were grievously injured and rushed to a hospital in Lucknow.
"While Gulab succumbed to his injuries on the way, Ramesh and the other security guard are undergoing treatment," Chaturvedi said, adding, an FIR in this regard has been lodged with the Amethi police.

On being contacted, Rajesh, manufacturer and distributer of ground spices, said, "I was busy in the factory when I heard gunfire from outside at the gate. The security guards belonged to a private security agency."
Rajesh, who was Samajwadi Party's nominee from Amethi in 2007 Assembly polls, was expelled in July this year by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for anti-party activities.