A 29-year-old man identified as Vineet Rai, son of a hotelier, was shot dead by four masked men in the Kotwali police station area of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, two days ago. His father, Alok Rai, on Sunday alleged that police inaction — and what he described as a direct 'nexus' between certain officers and an extortion gang — enabled the killing. He has demanded encounter action and bulldozer demolitions against the accused.

The Extortion Demand That Preceded the Murder

According to Alok Rai, the family had been targeted by the alleged 'Katra Gang' for extortion. 'They initially demanded ₹20 lakh from us for running the hotel in the area and then increased it to ₹1 crore,' he said. The family refused to pay. 'We will rather close the hotel,' Rai asserted.

Investigators have identified the prime suspect as a member of the alleged Katra Gang. Rai alleged that the gang operates from a house located 100 metres north of the family's hotel, and that the local village head's (Pradhan's) brother also leads the gang. He further alleged that the Pradhan provides shelter to gang members. 'This incident has been carried out together by all of them,' he said.

Repeated Complaints, No Action: Father's Account

Rai said the family had raised alarms with multiple authorities well before the murder. 'I had written applications to the DGP, ADG Varanasi, SP Kotwali, and even the Chief Minister regarding the incident and even sent reminders but no action was taken,' he said.

He alleged that approximately 20 such incidents may have occurred in the Kotwali area, with FIRs lodged in only two or three cases. 'Extortion is the reason for all such crimes in the area,' he claimed. 'The law-and-order situation in Ghazipur is zero,' Rai added.

Allegations of Police Complicity

Rai went further, alleging that certain police officials 'actually helped the gang to operate.' He described the situation as a 'police nexus' with the extortion racket — a charge that, if substantiated, would represent a serious institutional failure. These allegations remain unverified and have not been confirmed by the police or any official inquiry.

This comes amid broader scrutiny of law enforcement in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where extortion-linked violence in semi-urban areas has drawn repeated criticism from civil society groups.

What the Family Is Demanding

Alok Rai has called for encounter action against the accused and demolition of properties belonging to Katra Gang members, alleging all such constructions are illegal. 'The accused should be encountered and bulldozers should be run on the houses of Katra Gang members,' he said. The demands reflect the growing public association in Uttar Pradesh of 'bulldozer justice' with swift state action against alleged criminals.

As of Sunday, no official police response to the family's specific allegations of nexus had been made public. The investigation is ongoing, and the four masked assailants remain at large.