Lucknow: In a fresh twist to Bulandshahr cow slaughter case which led a huge mob violence claiming two lives on December 3, four persons arrested earlier have come out clean in the probe conducted
by Special Investigative Team (SIT). Consequently, the district police moved to court to ensure their release under relevant section of CrPC on Wednesday.
The four men --- Sarfuddin, Sajid, Banne Khan and Asif -- were apprehended on December 5 after being named in the FIR filed by district Bajrang Dal convenor and an accused in mob violence, Yogesh Raj for alleged cow slaughter. A trolley full of carcasses was recovered in a field in Mahaw village, Syana town of Bulandshahr district on Dcember 3.
However, the FIR lodged by Yogesh Raj naming four triggered speculations of deliberate attempt by the Bajrang Dal activist to settle personal score with them.
However, as per Bulandshahr City Superintendent of Police Atul Srivastava, police were now proceeding with formalities to release the men "wrongly framed.”
“Sufficient evidence was not there against the four persons who were earlier held for cow slaughter. Formalities are now underway under Section 169 (release of accused when evidence deficient) of
the CrPC," said SP Srivastava.
Meanwhile, during the investigation, another gang of four involved in the cow slaughter emerged as culprit of December 3 incident. The police have arrested three of them-- Nadim, Rahees and Kala -- who are now being dubbed as the main accused behind the cow slaughter in Mahaw village.
“While three of the gang behind the cow slaughter have been arrested. Their court aide Haroon is still absconding," said Prabhakar Chaudhary, SSP Bulandshahar said. The SSP claimed that police team had recovered the arms used to slaughter the cows on the fateful intervening night of Decemebr2 and 3.
“Even scientific evidence also proved the involvement of the three persons held now in the case,” he
added. Police said that the gang members used to shoot the cows down before slaughtering them. The meat was later distributed among gang members. A DBBL gun, a gypsy and equipments used for cow
slaughter was also recovered from them police said.
Meanwhile, the man accused in the case, Yogesh Raj is still absconding. On December 3, over 400 people had gone on rampage after a trolley load of cow carcasses were found in a field in Syana town in
Bulandshahr. The violence, however, had claimed two lives including inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a 20-year-old Sumit. Inspector Singh and his team had gone to the area to pacify the mob when they came under attack.