Asaram Bapu case: Security provided to murdered witness' family

Police has not yet succeeded in tracing out the two accused on the third day of the Asaram witness killing case

Security has been provided to the family of Akhil Gupta, a key witness in the rape case against Asaram Bapu in Surat, who was shot dead on January 11 by two assailants here, police said today.

Three police teams, led by SP (City) Sarvan Kumar have been formed to apprehend the two killers.

Police has not yet succeeded in tracing the duo on the third day, police said.

Meanwhile, security has been provided to Gupta's family, police said, adding that it had not been provided to Gupta as he had not asked for it.

Yesterday, the deceased's cousin Ashish Gupta lodged an FIR against two unidentified persons.

Police is investigating various angles including whether the murder was linked to Asaram's case or it was a fallout of old enmity, officials said.

Gupta was returning home from his shop on a scooter when two motorcycle-borne assailant shot at him. He was declared dead at the district hospital Sunday evening.

Gupta was the former cook and personal aide of self-styled 'Godman' Asaram, who is in jail since September 2013 in connection with another case of sexual assault of a minor girl in Jodhpur.

Two sisters in Surat have also accused Asaram and his son Narayan Sai of raping them. Gupta was a witness in the rape case against Asaram Bapu and had recorded his statement before a Gandhinagar court.