2 members of Hindu fringe group arrested for teenager’s murder in Patna during anti-Citizenship Act protests

Two people associated with a fringe Hindu group are among six who have been arrested in Patna in teenage murder case. The dead body of the teenager was found 10 days after participating in anti-citizenship law protests on December 21, the Indian Express reported.

The victim, Amir Hanzla of 18 years worked at a bag stitching unit. He was last seen with a tricolour in his hand at the protest called by the RJD.

According to a news report in Indian Express, Nagesh Samrat, aged 23, of the Hindu Putra Sangathan and Vikas Kumar, aged 21, of the Hindu Samaj Sangathan have been arrested in Amir’s murder case. The police is also investigating the duo’s role in inciting violence against the protesters through videos on facebook.

The victim had tried to leave protest site after police had used force to disperse a violent mob, but was held by a group of boys in the Sangat Gali area, adding that he was killed using bricks and other blunt objects, as per police. “There were head injuries and marks of two cuts on the body,” police said.

According to a news report in Indian Express, Kumar and Samrat were the main instigators behind the communal tension during the protest on December 21, as per police. In one of the videos, Kumar is seen accusing the police of torturing Hindus and calling for “all Hindu sons” to “come to Phulwari Sharif”. In another video, Samrat declares himself as the “son of a Hindu” and that he has “reached Phulwari”.

Hindu Putra Sangathan is among 19 organisations red-flagged by the Bihar Police Special Branch and had sought to obtain details of offices and office-bearers in an official communication last May.

Deepak Mahto, Chhotu Mahto, Sanoj Mahto alias Dhelwa, and Rais Paswan are others arrested in the murder case.

According to the victim’s family, Amir had left for work on his bicycle on December 21, but unit was closed due to the strike called by Rashtriya Janata Dal. He then joined the protest and was seen carrying the national flag. At 11:45 am, he last talked to his family after which his phone was switched off near the Phulwari Sharif block office. From here, his highly decomposed body was recovered, according to police, reported Express