Media reports say soldier Jitender Malik fired the shot that killed SHO Subodh Kumar Singh, cops say investigating his role.
Lucknow: The UP police are investigating the role of a soldier posted in Jammu and Kashmir in the mob violence that claimed the life of Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.
The accused, Jitender Malik, 24, is the 11th name, of the 27 accused, in the FIR lodged against the rioters but some media reports claim that he has emerged as the key suspect in the murder of Singh, who was the Station House Officer of Syana police station in Bulandshahr.
“The name (Jitender’s) has come up in the investigation and our teams are working on it. The person has been named in the FIR lodged,” said Prashant Kumar, ADG (Meerut Zone). The police are not sure if Jitender is a part of the Army or the paramilitary forces.
“Irrespective of whether a person is a part of the Army or any other organisation, the investigation will be carried out in a routine manner,” Kumar further said. “We have come to know from locals that he is posted as a constable or head constable in Jammu and Kashmir. This information is being checked.”
The FIR identifies the accused as Jeetu alias Fauji — a resident of Mahav village in Bulandshahr.
As per the media reports, it was Jitender who allegedly fired the shot that killed Singh.
“These details are part of the investigation and have not been proved yet. There are many videos that are being analysed to identify the accused and their role,” Kumar said.
The reports also claimed that Malik’s younger brother was a corporal in the air force and was posted in Pune.
Also read: BJP leader named in Bulandshahr violence case releases video claiming innocence
The violence
On Monday afternoon, locals from Syana area in Bulandshahr had assembled near Chingrawati police chowki after cattle carcasses were allegedly found in Mahav village. Expressing anger at the alleged cow slaughter, locals had protested, demanding that action be taken against the culprits.
The protest took a violent turn as stones were pelted and gunshots fired. The police chowki and some vehicles were set ablaze. In the ensuing melee, the 58-year-old inspector and Sumit, an undergraduate student, were killed, having sustained fatal gunshot injuries.
Two FIRs were lodged in the case — one relating to cow slaughter and a second relating to the two murders and rioting. On Wednesday, two minors, who were among the seven people accused of cow slaughter, were picked up by the police for questioning.
Incidentally, the complainant in the cow slaughter police complainant — self-proclaimed local Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Raj — is a prime accused in the second FIR. The second FIR which relates to mob violence and the two deaths in Bulandshahr books Raj, along with 26 others named and 50-60 unidentified persons, under 17 charges relating to murder, sedition, arson and dacoity.
Four persons allegedly involved in the mob violence and the murders have been arrested while four others have been arrested in the cow slaughter case so far, police said.
Court martial him.