How a ballistic report nailed the gangster's lie

Lucknow: Ballistic report of the attack on railway contractor and history-sheeter Surendra Kalia in Alambagh on July 13 has revealed that the criminal had orchestrated the attack on himself to seek police protection.

The Lucknow police made the revelation after the arrest of four associates of Kalia – Yashvendra Singh, Sachin Shukla, Sultan Ali and Ashish Kumar Dwivedi – who were arrested from Sultanpur on Monday.

Kalia, who has over 20 criminal cases pending against him, is still on the run.

Kalia’s cavalcade was attacked near a hospital in Alambagh area in which his private gunner Ramroop Yadav of Etah had suffered injuries.

In his FIR, Kalia had alleged that an attempt on his life was made at the behest of jailed mafia-turned-politician Dhananjay Singh.

Explaining how ballistic report exposed Kalia’s lies, DCP, east, Somen Barma said experts testified that 13 rounds were fired on Kalia’s vehicle from two separate weapons but shells of only one weapon were recovered from the spot.

“Only one shooter was seen firing in the CCTV footage. This was also confirmed by eye-witnesses. Police recovered only four shells from the spot while nine others were missing,” Barma said.

“Chemical testing of gunshot residue revealed that nine shots were fired on the vehicle from some other weapon hours before the attack. Only four shots were fired in Alambagh by one person, who was later identified as Kalia’s aide Yashvendra Singh,” he added.

Barma said all gunshots were fired on the vehicle’s body and none were shot on the glasses while the vehicle was stationary. He said in such attacks, gunshots are fired on the glasses to ensure that the occupants are hit.

“What made our suspicion stronger was the fact that in his initial statement, Kalia told police that he had bagged the doubling work of railway track between Shahganj and Jafrabad railway stations and was being threatened to quit the contract. We crosschecked Kalia’s claim and found it fake,” Barma added.

Yashvendra Singh was traced on the basis of CCTV footage who informed the police about the whereabouts of his associates. Barma said efforts were on to nab Kalia.