CHANDIGARH: Haryana Railway Police arrested the main accused in the alleged lynching of 17-year-old Junaid Khan of Khandwali village in Faridabad, from Maharashtra.
Sources said that a police team was sent to Dhule after they were tipped off that the suspect was hiding there. Police claim that during initial questioning, the main accused had admitted to the crime. He will be produced before a court on Saturday.
The police are not disclosing the name of the main accused due to legal reasons and are waiting for Junaid’s brother Haseeb, who was injured in the incident, to identify him.
Sources said that police are yet to recover the weapon with which Junaid was murdered and his brothers were injured. The police have built the case on the basis of the information provided by the brother and two cousins of the deceased. Though the alleged murder took place at a crowded railway station, no one had come forward to serve as eye-witness.
The footage from CCTV cameras installed near Asaoti railway station showed three bike-borne men fleeing the scene soon after the incident, which helped the police to identify the accused.
Till now, the state police have arrested five people in the case which includes a 50-year-old Delhi government employee. Now with Saturday’s arrest, a total of six people have been arrested. The police might arrest a few more people in the case who allegedly helped the accused.
The incident had triggered nationwide outrage. The arrest comes a few days after the Haryana police had announced an award of Rs 2 lakh for anyone who could provide information about the killers in the lynching case. “I want severe punishment for all who killed my son,” said 55-year-old Jallaludin, Junaid’s father.
Last month, Junaid was lynched and his two brothers were injured when they were returning from Delhi in a Mathura-bound train after Eid shopping.
Trouble started when the three reportedly had an argument with other passengers over sharing of seats. The mob allegedly turned violent and hurled abuses at them calling them “beef eaters.” Junaid’s body was dumped near Asaoti village in Faridabad.