New Delhi: The SIT investigation into the alleged cow slaughter in Western UP’s Bulandshahr revealed that the four Muslims men arrested on the charge are innocent and the police would soon move the court for their release.
Almost two weeks after their arrest, Sarfuddin, Sajid, Asif and Nanhe have been prima facie found “innocent”. The four men were arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by district Bajrang Dal convenor Yogesh Raj, who claimed seven persons had slaughtered cows.
Also Read: Former Civil Servants Pen Open Letter Over Breakdown of Law and Order in UP
His complaint included two of the four men who the police believe are innocent. Raj is the prime accused in the killing of inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and has been on the run. The violent protests by members of Hindutva groups resulted in the death of Singh and a local Sumit Kumar on December 3.
According to the Indian Express, the four men were declared innocent after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the incident arrested three other men on Tuesday on charges of cow slaughter.
Bulandshahr SSP Prabhakar Chaudhary told the Indian Express, “Prima facie, we found all four persons arrested earlier are innocent and after verifying other details we will move the court for their release.”
The three men arrested on Tuesday are Raees, Kaala and Nadeem. All are in their 30s and police have collected “scientific and other evidence” from them. A licensed gun was also recovered from Nadeem. According to the Indian Express, the police also claimed to have seized a vehicle allegedly used for transporting beef as well as knives used for cow slaughter from the three men. Kaala was arrested two years ago in a cow slaughter case and is currently out on bail, said Chaudhary.
On December 3, remains of cow slaughter were allegedly found near Siyana village by Bajrang Dal’s Yogesh Raj. In his complaint, he named seven Muslim men, claiming that he had witnessed them slaughtering the cows. Initial reports cast doubt on the veracity of his statement, as two of the seven turned out to be minors and some did not even live in the village. The SIT’s investigation only raises further doubts about Raj’s statements.
Subodh Kumar Singh. Credit: PTI
A mob, comprising members of Hindutva groups, gathered near the police station and turned violent. The station was attacked and SHO Subodh Kumar Singh was shot dead. Local Sumit Kumar was also killed in the mob’s frenzy.
While Raj is still absconding, the police have so far arrested 19 people in connection with the killings. According to media reports, the police on December 16 gave the accused one-month deadline to surrender or face the prospect of their properties being attached. After the notice was issued, one of the 23 accused surrendered.
The police also arrested two men accused in the killing on Tuesday.
Sachin Singh alias Cobra (21) and Johnny Chaudhary (19) were arrested by the Noida unit of STF, which had also joined the probe in the adjoining district, for their role in the violence on December 3, a senior official said.
Working on a tip-off, the two men, whose identity had been ascertained post the violence, were picked up at 4.15 pm from a bus stand in Gathiya Badshahpur in Siyana tehsil of Bulandshahr, deputy superintendent of police, STF, Raj Kumar Mishra said.
Evidence being destroyed: slain cop’s wife
Rajini Singh, inspector Singh’s wife, alleged that evidence in the case has been destroyed. Speaking to NDTV, she said, “They are protecting their own people and destroying all the evidence one by one. Nobody is there to tell what exactly happened there on that day.” She did not name anyone in particular.
Also Read: Ground Report: In Bulandshahr, Where Yogi Sees ‘Accident’, Locals See Conspiracy
Abhishek Singh, her son, stated that the politicians were protecting the accused. “What else explains the delay in arresting Yogesh Raj. What’s stopping the police? I just hope that my father’s murder doesn’t end up as a file covered in dust,” he said.
Yogesh Raj is a local BJP youth wing leader. Another accused, Shikhar Aggarwal, is also a BJP leader.
The family recently met UP chief minister Adityanath, who had initially said that the inspector’s death was an accident. “I met Yogi ji and told him about my pain. He assured me that my husband’s killers will be arrested soon. But the killers are still roaming free? I want to ask Yogi ji, why haven’t they been arrested?” she said.
(With PTI inputs)