The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested armyman Jitendra Malik, one of the suspects in the killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar during Bulandshahr mob violence.
“We’ve arrested army jawan Jitendra Malik. He was handed over by the army at 12:50 am today (Saturday). Preliminary interrogation has been done. He is being sent to Bulandshahr and will be produced before court for judicial custody,” said senior superintendent of police Abhishek Singh of Special Task Force in Meerut.
Jitendra alias Jeetu Fauji was detained by the 22 Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore town in Jammu and Kashmir and was handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police for further investigation on Saturday.
“He accepted he was there when crowd started gathering. Prima facie, it has been found true. It’s not yet ascertained if he is the one who shot Inspector or Sumit. He said he went there with villagers, but denied pelting stones on police. Forensic of his mobile will be done,” Singh added.
Earlier on Saturday, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that the army will extend full cooperation to the Uttar Pradesh Police in the investigation of the incident.
“We will fully cooperate with the police (in the investigation),” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, when asked about the possible involvement of a jawan in the killing of the officer in Bulandshahr.
The violence broke out on December 3 in the Uttar Pradesh town after cow carcasses were found strewn around, claiming the lives of inspector Subodh Kumar and 20-year-old local youth Sumit Kumar.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Source: Rediff