Bulandshahr Violence: 4 Of The 7 Arrested Over Cow Slaughter Are Innocent, Say UP Police

On December 3, a police inspector from Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh and a youth were killed in clashes that broke out in Shyana area over alleged cow slaughter. Amidst this, an FIR was registered against seven people including two minors for their alleged involvement in cow slaughter. Meanwhile, four people were also booked for the violence that resulted in the death of two. Now the investigation in the case has taken a new turn, with Bulandshahr police giving a clean chit to the four arrested for the cow slaughter. The police claimed that the four were deliberately framed in the case over “personal enmity”.

The four people identified as Sajid, Sarfuddin, Banne Khan and Asif, were arrested on December 5 post the Bulandshahr incident for alleged cow slaughter, reported News18. The complaint against the seven people was lodged by the District Chief of Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal, Yogesh Raj, who is a prime accused in the killing of inspector Subodh Kumar. The Uttar Pradesh police decision to declare the four innocent came after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the incident arrested three other men on December 20, Tuesday on charges of cow slaughter. The SIT claimed that the four who were earlier arrested are innocent.

This is Bulandshahr police probing a case of "highest priority"

Under pressure from right wing organisations and based on complaint of Yogesh Raj who wanted to frame his rivals, police lodged an FIR in haste against seven people in the cow slaughter case. pic.twitter.com/oIT4OmUVJw

— Piyush Rai (@PiyushRaiTOI) December 19, 2018

While talking about the innocence of the arrested people, the UP police said, “There was not find sufficient evidence against the four people who were earlier arrested for cow slaughter.” The Bulandshahr City Superintendent of Police, Atul Srivastava told News18 that formalities to release the four is underway under section 169 (release of accused when evidence deficient) of the CrPC. The police added that the four were “wrongly named in the FIR”.

The seven people who are charged in the case including the two minor aged 11 and 12 belong to the Muslim Community. Apart from the two minors, the remaining five accused were not even present in the village at the time of the incident, villagers say. Sajid, Sarfuddin, Banne Khan and Asif have pleaded that they are innocent and were not present at the site.

Now, police claims to have busted the 'real' gang behind the cow slaughter case. It has arrested three people on Tuesday. Investigators now claim that they don't have evidence against the seven people originally named in the FIR to prosecute them. pic.twitter.com/T0mbhf0Ltw

— Piyush Rai (@PiyushRaiTOI) December 19, 2018

Meanwhile, the UP police further told the News18 that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), is investigating the matter of violence and cow slaughter. Three other three people-Nadeem, Raees and Kala have been arrested over cow slaughter. The police have recovered a Gypsy, a double barrel gun, a meat chopper, some knives and a wooden block from the arrested people. According to the police, the items that have been recovered were allegedly used in the crime.

What happened that day?

On December 3, the incident took place when a few people started to protest in the area after they found the alleged carcass of a cow in the field, said the District Magistrate to The Indian Express. Allegedly, the mob was also protesting against illegal slaughterhouses.

The protestors had blocked the roads in the area. Following this, the police were informed about the incident. When the police reached the spot to get the roads opened, some unknown people started pelting stones at the at the police.

According to The Indian Express, the inspector, Subodh was again attacked while he was being taken to the hospital. The inspector died before he could have been treated.

Also Read: “UP CM Only Talks About Cow, While Law And Order Deteriorates,” Says Slain Bulandshahr Inspector’s Sister