[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Seven people accused in the Bulandshahr violence last year in which an inspector and one of the protesters, Sumit were shot dead, were released on bail on Saturday, August 24, after a High Court order.
The accused, Rajiv, Rohit, Raghav, Shikhar Agarwal, Jitendra Malik, Rajkumar and Sourav allegedly attempted murder, rioted and committed arson during the protests against cow slaughter on December 3 in Siyana.
They were given a hero’s welcome outside the jail amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’ after they were released on bail on Saturday. They were also garlanded with flowers and hugged by their supporters outside the district jail premises.
“We respect the judgment of the honorable High Court. As per procedure, the bail has been granted on certain conditions which includes that the accused will not, in any way, attempt to influence the investigation. If they are found violating any such condition, we will file for their bail cancellation. Five accused facing section 302 (for Subodh Kumar Singh’s murder) have not been granted bail yet,” said Raghvendra Kumar Mishra, who headed the Special Investigation Team constituted to look into the incident.
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The lawyers of the defendants argued that the accused did not have any prior criminal records and that they are not prone to commit a crime if they are granted bail, Police said.
Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a local youth were killed when Bajrang Dal activist Yogesh Raj and several other accused protested outside Chingrawait police booth against an alleged incident of cow slaughter in Siyana. The protest erupted after carcasses of around 25 cattle were found in the forests close to a police station. Locals had alleged the carcasses were of cows that were slaughtered illegally.
Following the discovery, a mob of around 400 people, including right-wing activists, violently rampaged through the Chingrawathi village. They set fire to dozens of vehicles, hurled stones and also fired guns at police who retaliated with gunfire.
One of the accused shot Subodh Kumar Singh with his service revolver and one of the protesters was also shot dead by the police officer, allegedly in self-defence.
As many as 44 people were slapped with sedition charges and were sent to jail in connection with the violence.
“The police have clubbed Sumit’s murder with the rioting and police officer’s murder in the same investigation. The police should investigate that (Sumit’s murder) separately,” said Sanjay Sharma, the lawyer representing Jitendra Malik and three others.
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