Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj violence: Main accused in Chandan Gupta murder case held

LUCKNOW: In a major breakthrough, Kasganj police on Wednesday arrested one of the main accused, Salim Javed, 45, named in the killing of Chandan Gupta, 23, during the communal flare up in the district on Republic Day. Kasganj clashes, erupted during a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Kotwali police area last Friday, had left Chandan dead and scores injured.

Police claimed to have recovered a 12 bore double barrel licensed rifle and 315 bore country-made pistol from the house of Salim, son of Barkatullah and a businessman who had been running a garment store in front of the Kotwali Police station for the last 40 years.

Confirming  the arrest, ADG, Agra zone, Ajay Anand said: “We have arrested Salim who was named in the FIR filed by Chandan Gupta’s father Sushil Gupta. Gupta had claimed that his son was killed by the bullet fired by Salim. In the FIR, he also named two younger brothers of accused, identified as Waseem and Naseem. Several other men have also been named in FIR and efforts are on to nab them.”

A senior police officer investigating the case confirmed that Chandan was shot with 315 bore weapon and his post-mortem report suggested that the bullet was found stuck in his kidney after penetrated through rib cage and liver.

Speaking over the arrest, DGP OP Singh claimed that police had gathered evidence from Salim’s place. “His mobile phone was kept on surveillance by the STF. Salim’s arrest is a big success,” said the DGP
adding that his interrogation was on and more clues were likely to emerge soon. “The SIT is gathering proof through video and mobile surveillance. We are analysing the flare-up and trying to give momentum to the probe to round up the culprits soon,” maintained DGP OP Singh.

Notably, Salim and his family, including his brothers, had been absconding since the incident took place. Notably, the local sources claimed during clash Salim’s younger brother Wasim Javed, district executive secretary of UP Industrial Representative Committee, was out on religious tour for over 40 days.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed to seek investigation of Kasganj communal flare up by National Investigating Agency (NIA). The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Abdul Moin also turned down the demand to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to the family of Chandan Gupta, the victim who lost his life during the Republic Day clashes and also granting him the status of martyr. The bench dismissed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved jointly by local BJP corporator Dilip Kumar Srivastava, BJP State Executive Committee member Neeraj Shankar Saxena and social worker Mamata Jindal.