Bulandshahr violence: Bajrang Dal asks Yogesh Raj to surrender, says he is innocent
Bulandshahr (UP), Dec 5: The Bajrang Dal on Wednesday asked its Bulandshahr convenor Yogesh Raj, the main accused in the mob violence here which left two people dead, to surrender before police and said it believed he is innocent.
The right-wing group also demanded a probe into the incident by the CBI, saying the police themselves were the complainant.
Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, who had initially probed the 2015 lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq, and a 20-year-old local man, Sumit Kumar, died of gunshot injuries on Monday as a rampaging mob protesting alleged illegal cow slaughter torched a police post in Bulandshahr and clashed with cops.
Raj is among the nearly 90 people booked for rioting and violence.
Some villagers in Mahav, where the cow carcasses were found strewn, have claimed that the locals had agreed to compromise and wanted to bury the animals' remains. But the right-wing activists carried them to the police post, creating a ruckus.
"Yes, we admit having brought the carcasses to the police station because we wanted action against those involved in cow slaughter. But when the police had agreed to our demand and registered an FIR, then why should we create ruckus?" Bajrang Dal's Western Uttar Pradesh region co-convenor Praveen Bhati asked.
Asked why then Raj's name had cropped up, he said, "It is because the two incidents have been linked. The people who had gathered here were outraged over cow slaughter and Yogesh Raj went to the police station to get a case registered."
"What happened here (violence at Chingrawathi police post) in the meantime, Yogesh Raj has got nothing to do with it. He is our district convenor, we are with him and he is innocent. He will cooperate with the police and come out at the right time," he said.
Bhati claimed Singh and Kumar were shot with guns of same bore.
"Sumit was killed by a private weapon and the police had fired that bullet. The FIR mentions that Subodh Kumar's private pistol was robbed. What was he doing there with the private weapon? The bore of the guns with which both were shot are the same," he said.
Bhati said Raj should surrender.
"Certainly he should surrender, but I should also make it clear that the probe should be conducted by a bigger agency for the truth to be revealed. In this FIR, the police themselves are the complainant and in such a situation how can they carry out a fair probe?" Bhati asked.
When told that a special investigation team is probing the incident, he said, "I am not satisfied with this, I think the CBI should probe it. All over the country the Bajrang Dal's image is being maligned and we are being portrayed as a violent organisation..."
"At least the truth should come out that a district level worker of Bajrang Dal cannot do such things," he added.
Bhati said connecting Singh's death with that fact that he was probing the Akhlaq lynching case would be incorrect.
The Bajrang Dal leader claimed Raj was on cordial terms with the inspector.
Bhati said he last spoke to Raj on the night of the incident and till then there was no complaint against him.
"Truth should come out and Yogesh should be brought to book if he is found guilty," he said.
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No more street vending on B’luru’s main roads, as govt plans to bring new policy for street hawkers
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has decided to formulate a new policy for footpaths in Bengaluru, under which street vending will not be allowed on main roads and sub-main roads.
Addressing the media after a budget preparation meeting and executive meeting of GBA corporations at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said discussions were held with MLAs from the GBA region regarding the corporations’ budgets and key civic issues.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok also participated in the meeting and shared his views. Officials from multiple departments, including police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA, along with ministers and legislators, were present.
He stated that all five municipalities have prepared their individual budgets, while MLAs have submitted their demands, including calls for ward-wise grants.
“We have decided to bring a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk as footpaths are encroached upon by street vendors,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting the need to balance livelihoods and public convenience, he added that “a separate space will be provided for street vendors, and specific roads will be designated for their business,” ensuring that pedestrians can use footpaths without obstruction. He noted that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on this approach.
Issuing a warning to vendors, Shivakumar said that authorities will act against those violating the rules. “If vendors operate during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, authorities will clear them. People should be aware of this,” he said.
Providing data on street vendors, he said that around 60,000 vendors have registered so far, of which 30,000 have applied for vehicles, and a tender has already been floated.
“Only those with street vendor identity cards will be allowed to do business. Those without ID cards will not be permitted to operate on the streets,” he added.
