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.
The Indian Express reported, citing the charge sheet filed by the UP police SIT, that accused Sachin Ahlawat made a 28-second call to Yogesh at 8:55 am on 3 December, informing him of alleged cow-slaughter in Mahav.
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.
“Hence it is clear that the information of the cow-slaughter incident was given by accused Sachin Ahlawat to Bajrang Dal convenor Yogesh Raj. After this Yogesh directed the other accused to gather with their supporters at the scene of crime. Yogesh and rest of the accused put the carcass on the tractor trolley and carried it in front of the Siyana police station on Bulandshahr highway and raised slogans against the police.”Chargesheet, as quoted by The Indian Express
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.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)