NSA invoked against key conspirator in HPCL GM, dy manager double murder

Bareilly: The district administration has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Abhay Pratap, the alleged mastermind and weapons supplier behind the double murder of two senior officials of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) at the company’s plant at Sainji village in Badaun district in March this year.District magistrate Avinash Kumar Rai confirmed the development, and noted that NSA was first invoked against Abhay’s cousin and co-accused Ajay Pratap Singh while he was in judicial custody at Fatehgarh jail.The case traces back to March 12, when Ajay—a former crop residue (parali) contractor whose contract had been terminated—allegedly barged into the HPCL plant in Sainji village under Musajhag police station limits.

He opened fire at close range, killing general manager Sudhir Gupta and deputy manager Harshit Mishra on the spot.Ajay, who had been threatening the officials over his termination, was later arrested following a police encounter in which he was shot in both legs.Subsequent investigations revealed that Abhay planned the entire operation and procured the firearm used in the assault. Police later filed a chargesheet naming five accused -- Ajay, his brother Keshav, Abhay, a driver named Dharmendra, and an employee identified as Munendra.

A separate departmental inquiry also indicted suspended inspector Ajay Kumar and sub-inspector Dharmendra Kumar, both of whom were posted at Musajhag police station at the time of the incident. Bareilly zone DIG Ajay Kumar Sahani confirmed that the inquiry found both officers negligent for failing to act on prior written complaints and threats reported by the HPCL management, noting that timely intervention could have prevented the killings.