Bulandshahr Violence: Bajrang Dal Leader Yogesh Raj Arrested

The key accused was on the run since December 3 and was arrested late on Wednesday night. He confessed to pelting stones, police said.

New Delhi: Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Raj, a key accused in the mob violence in Bulandshahr in which police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a civilian were killed, has been arrested almost a month after the violence, police said on Thursday.

Raj, the Bajrang Dal’s district coordinator, was absconding since the violence on December 3. He was arrested at around 11.30 pm on Wednesday night from the Khurja T-point on National Highway 91, the police said.

According to the Indian Express, Raj confessed to participating in the violence and pelting stones at the police station. Last month, he released a video claiming to be innocent and denied being present at the site of violence.

Earlier on Wednesday, Satish and Vineet, also accused of violence, and Azhar, accused in the alleged cow slaughter case, surrendered in the local court in Bulandshahr.

“Yes, Yogesh Raj has been arrested. He is undergoing medical examination and will be produced in the local court later today for legal proceedings,” circle officer (Siyana) Raghvendra Kumar Mishra said on Thursday morning.

Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and civilian Sumit Kumar, 20, were killed after being shot during the mob violence.

An FIR against 27 known persons and 50-60 unidentified people was registered at the Siyana Police Station for the violence at Chingrawathi police post after cattle carcasses were found strewn at the nearby Mahaw village of the district.

Also Read: Bulandshahr Violence Attempt to Instill Fear Among Muslims, Claim Human Rights Bodies

Including Raj, 31 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence. Earlier this week, another key accused, Kalua, was arrested by the police. Kalua allegedly attacked Subodh Kumar Singh with an axe. The axe allegedly used to attack Singh was also recovered from Kalua’s possession.

Prashant Natt, a taxi driver in Delhi, was arrested for allegedly shooting Singh. Though his name was not included in the FIR, he was arrested after being identified in videos and his presence was corroborated by the testimonies of other accused. The police said 30-year-old Natt seized Singh’s revolver and shot him in the head.

A separate FIR was lodged by the police for alleged cow slaughter on a complaint filed by Raj. Some of the men who Raj claimed slaughtered the cow were later found innocent by the Special Investigation Team.