New Delhi: The police inspector who was shot dead during the mob violence at Bulandhshahr allegedly by members of right-wing outfits was killed because he was investigating the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq, his sister alleged on Tuesday.
Calling the murder of SHO Subodh Kumar Singh a conspiracy, his sister alleged that the riot was staged to eliminate him.
“My brother was investigating Akhlaq case and that is why he was killed. It’s a conspiracy by the police. He should be declared a martyr and a memorial should be built. We do not want money," she said.
The slain cop’s relative also lashed out at chief minister Yogi Adityanath, saying he only keeps saying “cow, cow, cow," when the law and order situation in his state has deteriorated.
The 47-year-old SHO, who was shot in the head by mobsters on Monday as he tried to pacify the violent protesters triggered by rumours of cow slaughter, was the first investigating officer in the Akhlaq lynching case. He had investigated the case for over a month.
The Dadri lynching case had taken place on the night of September 28, 2015, in Bisada village of Dadri when a mob dragged 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq from his house and allegedly beat him to death.
The mob had gathered in the village after suspicions about cow slaughter and beef consumption had been voiced in a temple announcement that evening.
Hailing from Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, Singh had been in police service for more than 30 years. He had been posted in Bulandshahr in September this year. He had succumbed to the bullet injury on Monday after the mob did not let police personnel take him to a hospital.
“He was lying on the ground. I drove the car to a field and put him in it. As soon as we began moving, a mob landed and started shouting, ‘maaro, maaro’. They were throwing stones from behind trees. Everyone started running away. I ran as well. The SHO was already injured and we were trying to take him to the hospital. We could hear gunshots from the sugarcane fields," the cop’s driver Ram Ashray said.
Abhishek, son of the deceased policeman while struggling to hold back his tears, wondered how many more lives will be lost over the Hindu-Muslim dispute.
“My father wanted me to be a good citizen who doesn't incite violence in society in the name of religion. Today my father lost his life in this Hindu-Muslim dispute, tomorrow whose father will lose his life?" he asked.
Bulandshahr district magistrate Anuj Jha said, "I would say that the police officer was brave that he ventured into the crowd alone to pacify them. He was just doing his job. He was known to be a person who never backed down from any tough situation. We have lost an asset."
The incident led to a political slugfest, with the Congress hitting out at the chief minister, saying he should first set his own house in order before "gallivanting" around the country for election campaign.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal said it was a shocking state of affairs how a mob killed a police officer investigating the Akhlaq case. “Who gives these people the authority to take law in their hands? Instead of taking care of his state Yogi is going to Telangana & spewing venom," he said.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the incident in Bulandshahr has let down humanity. “The state government has said that whoever is responsible will be brought to justice without any bias. I appeal to people to stay cautious of the elements who are creating unrest for their own interests."
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