Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh), Oct 17 (IANS): Three persons, including the main accused Viresh Tomar, were taken into custody on Saturday for the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dayashankar Gupta in Uttar Pradeshs Firozabad district.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sachdanand Patel said a case has been registered at Narkhi police station in Firozabad. The deceased leader was at his shop on Friday night when three motorcycle-borne assailants fired at him. His family members rushed him to a hospital where he was declared dead.

The family filed a complaint against three persons following which an FIR was registered. The police have taken the three accused into custody.

After the death of Dayashankar Gupta, an angry mob blocked the road and was pacified only after the body was sent for post-mortem and an FIR was registered. A large number of policemen, including the city SP, reached the spot and dispersed the agitating crowd. Political rivalry is reported to be the reason behind the murder of the BJP leader.

Dayashankar Gupta was the BJP mandal Vice-President of Nagla beach town in Firozabad district and owned a grocery shop.

His family members said Dayashankar was sitting in his shop after he had filed his nomination as a BJP candidate for the upcoming by-election from Tundla constituency when the three bike-borne assailants fired at him.