‘No big deal’, says Yogi govt on grand welcome of 7 accused in Bulandshahr violence out on bail

Reacting over the news of a grand welcome to the seven persons accused of killing a police inspector in cow slaughter violence in Bulandshahr last year after they came out of jail on bail, the UP government said on Monday that it was ‘no big deal’.

Seven of the 33 men accused in the case were released on bail last week, and were welcomed with garlands and chants of "Jai Shri Ram" by right-wing activists.

As soon as they stepped out of Bulandshahr Jail on Saturday night, the seven accused were garlanded and greeted with slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram'. Later, the supporters also threw a "welcome party" in "honour" of these seven men.

Those released on bail on Saturday included Shikhar Agarwal, the former chief of the local BJP youth wing, Hemu and Upendra Raghav, who are part of a right-wing group, a former army man identified as Jeetu Fauji, Saurav and Rohit Raghav. The videos of the welcome party, shot by local reporters, triggered opposition outrage after they were circulated on social media.

"If supporters of people who have been released from jail welcome them, the government and BJP have nothing to do with it. The Opposition should not make a mountain out of a molehill," Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

They are accused in a case of mob violence that took place on December 3 after a cow carcass was found in a sugarcane field near Mahav village of Siyana in Bulandshahr.

Subodh Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Siyana, and local youth, Sumit Kumar, were killed in the violence and Chingrawati police picket was set on fire.

Soon after the violence, police booked 27 named and more than 60 unnamed in the violence under more than a dozen IPC sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity), 333 (grievous hurt to public servant), 124 A (sedition) etc.

However, the release of the seven accused belies the local police' claim that they had prepared a 'watertight' case against them.

Senior Superintendent of Police of Bulandshahr Santosh Kumar Singh said those released were not facing stringent sections and were booked for rioting and not murder.

"A total of 10 people have been granted bail out of which seven were released. The accused granted bail were booked for rioting. None of the accused booked for murder has been granted bail," he said.

Malik, an Army man from 22 Rashtriya Rifles and posted in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) on December 9 after his name came up as the main conspirator who killed inspector Subodh Kumar Singh. But, he was not chargesheeted for the murder.

"We had approached the High Court to seek relief following which seven accused were granted bail. Jitendra Malik has also reported to the Army base in Meerut's Babugarh area after his release," said Sanjay Sharma, Malik's advocate.

BJYM leader Agarwal was arrested in January this year from Hapur district after he remained absconding for over a month.

Support among sections for people accused of killing or inciting violence is not new. In 2017, Shambhu Lal Raigar, a marble trader, who was accused of killing a Muslim labourer in Rajasthan and also of filming the brutal act, became an instant celebratory of sorts among a section of people.

The police had to freeze his bank account after he received "donations" to the tune of Rs 3 lakh from around 516 "sympathisers" from across the country.