Moradabad (UP): The law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh seems to have gone haywire. A band of goons shot dead a Dalit activist at Thakurdwara in Moradabad district of the state, the police said on Tuesday.
According to reports, the 30-year-old Dalit man Vishal Valmiki was murdered after instructions from a local tough who felt that the activist came in way of his unlawful activities.
Senior superintendent of police Hemraj Meena said a man named Bilal had shot dead Valmiki on the instruction of a criminal Atul Sharma Pandit and his aide Golu.
An FIR was registered against the murderer and other perpetrators of the crime after the family of Valmiki had lodged a complaint, Meena said, adding that five teams have been set up to search for the accused.
Meanwhile, sanitary workers decided to go on strike from Tuesday in protest against the killing.
According to circle officer of Thakurdwara Arpit Kapoor, who is investigating the case, said after the murder, the situation in the area has become tense. The accused named in the case have criminal background and the police will soon bring them to book, Kapoor said.