UP: Soldier, key suspect in Bulandshahr violence, arrested; denies involvement
What's the story
Jeetender Malik aka Jeetu Fauji, who is the key suspect in Bulandshahr violence that killed a police officer and a youth, was arrested on Sunday.
Soon after the violence, Malik went to J&K where he was posted. The Uttar Pradesh police contacted the Army which promised all help.
Malik was handed over by Army at 12:40 AM and will be produced before the court today.
Malik's role
A soldier at center of violence
Days after the clashes broke, a video surfaced on social media which purportedly showed Malik firing a gun. It is believed this gunshot killed inspector Subodh Singh.
Senior superintendent of police, Special Task Force, Abhishek Singh said Malik accepted he was present when the crowd assembled.
"He said he went there with villagers, but denied pelting stones on police," Singh told ANI.
Questions
Why did Armyman instigate the crowd, asks top cop
However, another senior officer is convinced of Malik's hand in the stone-pelting. Anand Kumar, the senior-most officer in UP police, in-charge of law and order, said a clip clearly shows Malik instigating the crowd.
"Why is an armyman instigating the crowd, why should he be raising these slogans," he asked.
He added Bajrang Dal's Yogesh Raj, another prime accused, will be nabbed soon.
Details
Gun which killed inspector Singh could be of Malik's
Malik, a member of the Rashtriya Rifles, is posted in Srinagar and was in Bulandshahr for 15 days leave.
An SIT report concluded that (.32) pistol was used during the violence, and it could belong to Malik.
Singh said a forensic examination of Malik's phone will be done to get a clear picture of his role.
Earlier, his mother had denied his involvement in the violence.
Mother's words
Will kill him myself if he is involved: Malik's mother
Speaking to a TV news channel, Malik's mother Ratan Kaur said she would kill him herself if it is proved he was involved in the murder of inspector Singh.
"I'm not so heartless. I'm equally pained by the death of the policeman and the other boy from Chingrawathi and also for what the entire village and its people are going through," she said.