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Bajrang Dal convener and an accused in Bulandshahr violence, Yogesh Raj, and other accused exchanged phone calls just hours prior to the violence, according to a fresh media report.
Now, as per the charge sheet, after this initial call, several calls were exchanged between him and the other accused in the case – Ashish Chauhan, Satish Chandra, Sachin Jat, Pavan, Satyendra and Vishal Tyagi – between 9 am and 10:30 am. The Indian Express further reported that Yogesh’s location changed from Nayabas to Siyana within 45 minutes of receiving the first call.
According to the report, the charge sheet further claimed that the route of the Iztema devotees, which was held in Bulandshahr during the same time, was shifted from Aurangabad to Jahangirabad which otherwise could have resulted in “unimaginable” riots.
The charge sheet said that the Bajrang Dal activists led the crowd that formed the blockade outside Siyana police booth with the tractor containing the alleged cow carcass. The charge sheet further held the crowd responsible for damaging state property.
Indian Express also reported that people shut their doors fearing the mob.
A 103-page charge sheet was submitted in March, along with more than a 3000-page diary to the Bulandhshahr Chief Judicial Magistrate, The Indian Express report said.
Massive unrest broke out in Bulandshahr on 3 December 2018, after rumours of cow slaughter agitated a huge mob in the Uttar Pradesh town. The mob, led by right-wing activists, had also attacked a police outpost in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh over discovery of cow carcasses, killing inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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