The BJP leader allegedly shot dead Jai Prakash Pal Gama on Thursday following a quarrel over the allotment of ration shops at Durjanpur village in Ballia's Reoti area.
The Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force has arrested Ballia murder case main accused BJP leader Dhirendra Pratap Singh and four others.
The accused have been sent to 14-day judicial custody
According to the police, the BJP leader allegedly shot dead Jai Prakash Pal Gama on Thursday following a quarrel over the allotment of ration shops at Durjanpur village in Ballia's Reoti area.
Dhirendra was arrested from Lucknow while Santosh Yadav, Amarjeet Yadav, Ajay Singh and Dharmendra Singh were held from Ballia.
The STF, in a statement, said the BJP leader carried a cash reward of Rs 50,000 and was held at 11.40 am while waiting for his friend near the Polytechnic crossing. An Aadhaar card and Rs 1,000 in cash were recovered from him. He has been lodged at Kotwali police station in Ballia.
During interrogation, Dhirendra said that on October 15, around 2,000 people fhad gathered in the village and there was a fracas over the allotment of ration shop. Members of the other side (of Krishna Kumar Yadav) opened fire in which his nephew, Golu Singh, and 5-6 women of his family were injured. Golu later succumbed to his injuries.
So far, police have arrested 10 people in connection with the case, in which an FIR has been lodged against around 30 people, most of which are yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased demanded stringent punishment for the guilty, security for his family, Rs 50 lakh assistance and a government job.
Expressing apprehension, he said, "But Dhirendra is a 'dabang' (strongman). We fear untoward incidents in future as well."