A local political leader of Raebareli was today arrested in connection with the killing of five persons over a land dispute, a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took serious note of the incident.
Block pramukh Shiv Kumar was named in an FIR registered in the case, a police spokesman said here.
Earlier, police had arrested Raja Yadav, Krishan Kumar, Pradip Kumar, Ram Bahal Yadav and Bhadeu in connection with the lynching and a hunt was on to nab the others involved in the crime, the spokesman said.
The chief minister had yesterday announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the victims' families, while directing the zonal IG to probe the matter in 10 days and ensure justice.
Five persons, including a village head, were lynched by a mob allegedly for land grabbing in Apta village in Unchahar area of Raebareli district on the night of June 26.
The incident had taken place when the village head of Tevra, Rohit Shukla, was doing construction work in Bhusai-ka- Purwa on a piece of land given to him by his father-in-law and the construction was stopped by Raja Yadav, son of Apta village head, Rajshri, claiming that it was gram sabha land.
When Rohit came to know about it, he went to Apta village with Anup, Ankush, Karam Chand and Bacha Shukla to talk to Raja but situation took an ugly turn and after heated arguments, Raja's brother Krishan Kumar opened fire on the group.
While Rohit and others tried to escape in a jeep, the vehicle collided with a pole after which Raja and other villagers armed with sticks reached there and started beating them killing Rohit, Karamchand and Bacha on the spot.
They set fire to the jeep in which Anup and Ankush were burnt alive, police had said.
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