Four Muslims Held For Alleged Bulandshahr Cow Slaughter Are Innocent: SIT
New Delhi, Dec 19: The SIT investigation into the alleged cow slaughter in Western UP’s Bulandshahr revealed that the four Muslims men arrested on the charge are innocent and the police would soon move the court for their release.
Almost two weeks after their arrest, Sarfuddin, Sajid, Asif and Nanhe have been prima facie found “innocent”. The four men were arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by district Bajrang Dal convenor Yogesh Raj, who claimed seven persons had slaughtered cows.
His complaint included two of the four men who the police believe are innocent. Raj is the prime accused in the killing of inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and has been on the run. The violent protests by members of Hindutva groups resulted in the death of Singh and a local Sumit Kumar on December 3.
According to the Indian Express, the four men were declared innocent after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the incident arrested three other men on Tuesday on charges of cow slaughter.
Bulandshahr SSP Prabhakar Chaudhary told the Indian Express, “Prima facie, we found all four persons arrested earlier are innocent and after verifying other details we will move the court for their release.”
The three men arrested on Tuesday are Raees, Kaala and Nadeem. All are in their 30s and police have collected “scientific and other evidence” from them. A licensed gun was also recovered from Nadeem. According to the Indian Express, the police also claimed to have seized a vehicle allegedly used for transporting beef as well as knives used for cow slaughter from the three men. Kaala was arrested two years ago in a cow slaughter case and is currently out on bail, said Chaudhary.
On December 3, remains of cow slaughter were allegedly found near Siyana village by Bajrang Dal’s Yogesh Raj. In his complaint, he named seven Muslim men, claiming that he had witnessed them slaughtering the cows. Initial reports cast doubt on the veracity of his statement, as two of the seven turned out to be minors and some did not even live in the village. The SIT’s investigation only raises further doubts about Raj’s statements.
Subodh Kumar Singh. Credit: PTI
A mob, comprising members of Hindutva groups, gathered near the police station and turned violent. The station was attacked and SHO Subodh Kumar Singh was shot dead. Local Sumit Kumar was also killed in the mob’s frenzy.
While Raj is still absconding, the police have so far arrested 19 people in connection with the killings. According to media reports, the police on December 16 gave the accused one-month deadline to surrender or face the prospect of their properties being attached. After the notice was issued, one of the 23 accused surrendered.
The police also arrested two men accused in the killing on Tuesday.
Sachin Singh alias Cobra (21) and Johnny Chaudhary (19) were arrested by the Noida unit of STF, which had also joined the probe in the adjoining district, for their role in the violence on December 3, a senior official said.
Working on a tip-off, the two men, whose identity had been ascertained post the violence, were picked up at 4.15 pm from a bus stand in Gathiya Badshahpur in Siyana tehsil of Bulandshahr, deputy superintendent of police, STF, Raj Kumar Mishra said.
Evidence being destroyed: slain cop’s wife
Rajini Singh, inspector Singh’s wife, alleged that evidence in the case has been destroyed. Speaking to NDTV, she said, “They are protecting their own people and destroying all the evidence one by one. Nobody is there to tell what exactly happened there on that day.” She did not name anyone in particular.
Abhishek Singh, her son, stated that the politicians were protecting the accused. “What else explains the delay in arresting Yogesh Raj. What’s stopping the police? I just hope that my father’s murder doesn’t end up as a file covered in dust,” he said.
Yogesh Raj is a local BJP youth wing leader. Another accused, Shikhar Aggarwal, is also a BJP leader.
The family recently met UP chief minister Adityanath, who had initially said that the inspector’s death was an accident. “I met Yogi ji and told him about my pain. He assured me that my husband’s killers will be arrested soon. But the killers are still roaming free? I want to ask Yogi ji, why haven’t they been arrested?” she said.
Courtesy: thewire.in
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Karnataka to approach SC seeking permission to continue MGNREGA
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue implementation of MGNREGA in the state, contending that the Centre had repealed the rural employment guarantee law without consultation and failed to put in place any alternative mechanism under the VB-G RAM G Act.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state would immediately move the apex court seeking permission to prepare and implement the annual action plan for rural employment works, while also challenging what it described as an infringement on the constitutional rights of states.
The parliament passed VB-G RAM G in December that replaces MGNREGA.
Patil explained that the Cabinet decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare an action plan in this regard. Since the Centre’s stand interferes with the constitutional rights of state governments, the Cabinet has also decided to challenge this issue before the appropriate court
“There are two points here. One is that they have come in the way of our constitutional right of providing the right to work. That has been halted, and, therefore, the State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court. The second point is that the Government of India has not provided any alternative,” the Minister said.
The Central Government has not yet issued a notification to implement the VB-G RAM G Act, nor has it made any alternative arrangements and hence continuing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is unavoidable in the public interest, the Minister said.
“Therefore, in the interest of the public, farmers and agricultural labourers, we must continue MGNREGA. For that purpose, the Cabinet has decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare the action plan for this year,” he added.
The Minister also said the Centre had only permitted continuation of pending and spillover MGNREGA works without releasing grants or announcing a fresh action plan.
“The Centre itself has said that pending, spillover and half-done MGNREGA works can continue. That means MGNREGA is actually still functioning in practice. But there is no new action plan,” he said.
Patil said the state had already passed a resolution on the issue, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister had held discussions with Union Ministers.
Replying to questions, the minister said the state would move court “as immediately as possible.”
He clarified that the state was seeking permission to formulate and implement this year’s action plan under the existing framework.
“What we are asking the Supreme Court is to allow us to have the action plan for this year and implement it,” he said.
The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on the final report submitted by the State Education Policy Commission headed by former UGC chairman Professor Sukhadeo Thorat.
Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine the report and recommend measures for implementation.
“No decision has been taken yet. The Cabinet sub-committee will recommend what should be accepted and what should be modified,” he said.
He said the report comprised around eight volumes and covered issues relating to financial implications, human resources, curriculum reforms, deemed universities, unitary universities and newly established universities. The Chief Minister has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee.
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Related Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Amendment Bill, 2026, transferring welfare administration of transport-related workers from the Labour Department to the Transport Department.
The Cabinet further approved establishment of three new industrial estates in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Surpur under the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 2026, providing two per cent reservation in state civil services appointments for sportspersons.
