Ara: Uttar Pradesh police arrested a criminal carrying an award of Rs 5,000 on his head and wanted in the murder of newspaper hawker and his brother in Bhojpur district, Brajesh Rai, on Thursday from Jogamusadih villager under Karimuddinpur police station of Gazipur district in UP and also seized a country-made pistol and some live cartridges from his possession.

Bhojpur police have been sent to Gazipur with a production warrant on Friday to bring him to Ara.

Bhojpur SP Awakash Kumar said Brajesh Rai, son of Vishuni Rai of Ramdatahi village under Karnamepur police outpost along with his associates had waylaid and shot dead Yogendra Tatwa, son of Shankar Tatwa of Ramdatahi village under Karnamepur police outpost when he was going to distribute newspapers on the morning of January 17, 2018.

He said a named FIR was lodged against Brajesh, his brothers Shivsagar Rai and Ritesh Rai and Sonu Rai, brother-in-law of Shivsagar Rai on the statement of the deceased Yogendra Tatwa's wife Meena Devi and an unnamed FIR against Amit Rai, brother-in-law of Shivsagar Rai languishing in Gazipur jail at present.

Enmity over 5 cottahs of 'gairmazarua' land at Ramdatahi village under Karnamepur police outpost was going on for the past 20 years in between the families of Brajesh Rai and Shiv Shankar Prasad. Both the groups claimed their right on the land which was situated near the house of Shiv Shankar Prasad and Ram Sakal Prasad.