Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday detained a ruling Samajwadi Party leader for questioning in connection with the murder of Mehar, wife of Congress leader Luv Bhargava. She was shot while protesting the teasing of her daughter-in-law. The police have announced a reward on the head of the main accused, against whom a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued.

K D Singh, a block pramukh of the SP in Jaunpur district, was detained by Special Task Force personnel and brought here for questioning.

A massive hunt has been launched to nab main accused Sachin Pahari who used to frequent the flat of Singh, senior superintendent of police Ashutosh Pandey told newsmen. Police sources said teams had been rushed to Azamgarh, Pithoragarh and Mughalsarai to apprehend Pahari.

Pandey said a reward had been declared on Pahari's head, proceedings have been launched to attach his property and a non-bailable warrant issued against him.

Two persons Jai Prakash and Pramod Singh had already been arrested in connection with Mehar's murder, he added. State DGP Yashpal Singh ordered an IG-level inquiry into the murder and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav assured that the the main accused in the case would be nabbed soon.

Mehar, 50, who had received a gun shot injury after she was fired at by assailants near her residence here on February 28, died at a hospital in Delhi on Saturday. She was laid to rest at a cemetry in the presence of a large number of Congress leaders and eminent citizens.