New Delhi: A Delhi Police vehicle carrying Aftab Poonawalla, accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar, was allegedly attacked by a group of men while returning from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Rohini Monday. Poonawalla was taken to FSL for a polygraph test.
Two of the men, who claimed to be members of the Hindu Sena, attacked the police van with swords. According to police sources, two of those who attacked the vehicle have been detained for questioning. Sources also said the police were trying to verify if the men who attacked the van belonged to the Hindu Sena.
An FIR has been registered at the Prashant Vihar Police Station under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (voluntarily obstructs public servant in discharge of functions), 147 (rioting), 148(rioting, armed with deadly weapon), and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object).
Speaking to ThePrint, Vishnu Gupta, national president of Hindu Sena, said, “I have seen the visuals but don’t know if they are from Hindu Sena. I am trying to get in touch with our members and workers to confirm.”
Gupta added, “Whatever these activists have done is their personal feelings, the whole country is watching how Poonawalla cut a Hindu girl into pieces. The organisation does not support any such work which is against the Constitution of India, we believe in the law of India.”
#WATCH | Police van carrying Shradhha murder accused Aftab Poonawalla attacked by at least 2 men carrying swords who claim to be from Hindu Sena, outside FSL office in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Bpx4WCvqXs
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2022
Police sources said no PCR call was made but a group of locals outside the FSL tried to stop the van. The men threatened to “kill” Poonawalla, saying the police weren’t doing anything.
A visual from the spot shows two men, one wearing a saffron headgear, attacking the police vehicle. One of them can be heard yelling “open the door”. A police personnel can then be seen opening the van’s door and talking to the men before closing it. Another police personnel then waves a gun at the alleged attackers.
Poonawalla was arrested by the Delhi Police on 12 November, more than six months after he allegedly strangled Walkar to death and chopped her body into 35 pieces, before disposing of the remains.
Her father contacted the Mumbai Police in October, saying he hadn’t heard from Walkar for a long time. The Mumbai Police later contacted their Delhi counterpart following which a complaint was lodged by Walkar’s father.
Also read: Delhi mother-son arrested for murder of husband — ‘chopped body, kept in fridge, scattered parts’