Ballabhgarh Lynching: Hang Junaid’s Killer, Says His Family

The prime accused in the Ballabhgarh lynching case, who was arrested from Dhule, has ‘confessed’, says police

People participate in “Not In My Name” protest against killing of Junaid Khan in New Delhi on 28 June 2017.

(Photo: The Quint)

The prime accused in the killing of Muslim youth Junaid Khan onboard a Mathura-bound train near Ballabhgarh has been sent to a two-day police remand by a Faridabad court. The next hearing is on 11 July.

The prime accused was arrested from the Dhule district of Maharashtra, the police said on 8 July. Police say the accused, identified as Naresh Rakh, has confessed.

Jalaluddin, Junaid Khan’s father, has demanded the death penalty for the accused.

A statement released by the Government Railway Police (GRP) said that a team was sent to Dhule following a tip-off that the accused was hiding there.

The GRP claimed in the statement that during interrogation the accused had "confessed" to having killed 17-year-old Junaid Khan.

The police had earlier arrested five persons including a Delhi government employee in connection with the killing of Junaid between Ballabgarh and Mathura stations onboard a Delhi-Mathura passenger train.

Police say the identification parade will be conducted soon.

Junaid was stabbed to death while his brothers, Hashim and Sakir, were injured by a mob which also allegedly hurled communal slurs at them. His brothers said the attackers had taunted and repeatedly called them "anti-nationals" and "beef-eaters".

A reward of Rs 2 lakh had also been announced for information on the identity of those involved in the killing.

Junaid was stabbed to death when he, along with his brothers, was returning home to Khandawli village in Ballabgarh after shopping for Eid in Delhi.

The youth's body was dumped close to Asaoti village in Faridabad district.