NEW DELHI, DEC 10: Army jawan Jitendra Malik, who is accused of killing a policeman during Bulandshahr violence, has been handed over to Uttar Pradesh Police last night by the Army. In the preliminary interrogation, he admitted that he was at the spot when the crowd started gathering but has denied shooting inspector.
“He has accepted that he was there when the crowd started gathering. Prima facie, it has been found true. It’s not yet ascertained if he is the one who shot the inspector or the boy. He said he went there with villagers, but denied pelting stones on police,” SSP Abhishek Singh told ANI.
Jitendra Malik, alias Jeetu Fauji, was detained by 22 Rashtriya Rifles Army in Sopore of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday and was handed over to UP Police in Meerut. He will be will be produced before the court for judicial custody Bulandshahr.
Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a 22-year-old undergraduate student Sumit Kumar were killed in the violence that broke out in Bulandshahr apparently after cow carcasses were found strewn in a nearby jungle.
A special investigation team’s (SIT) report had suggested that both of them were shot dead with the same bore (.32) pistol or pistols. Police believe the pistol belongs to Jeetu Fauji who reportedly opened fire, killing the policeman.
Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh had initially probed the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq, and the death is, hence, being linked with to the 2015 episode.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bulandshahr KB Singh and two other policemen have been transferred for negligence in the Bulandshahr violence.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has come under severe attack after the Bulandshahr incident, has sparked a controversy by terming the deaths in the violence an accident.
“There is no incident of mob-lynching in Uttar Pradesh. The Bulandshahr incident is an accident and the law is taking its course. No guilty will be spared,” the chief minister had said on Friday.
The opposition has slammed this remark and questioned the law and order situation in the state. “The statement made by Yogi Adityanath is highly irresponsible and shameful. He should step down from his position as his govt has failed to control the law and order situation,” Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhie Singh said.
“The UP CM is incompetent and he has no administrative skills. The statement made by him is condemning. If he is unable to handle the state then he should be removed from the top post. The mob lynching incidents in UP under his rule is decided on the basis of community,” Congress spokesperson Zeeshan Haider said.
