The Haryana Railway Police on Monday doubled the reward for any credible leads on the man who stabbed 15-year-old Junaid Khan to death on board a Mathura-bound train on June 22, The Hindu reported. They raised the amount from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
Officials said that the dearth in eyewitnesses willing to come forward made them increase the amount, reported The Indian Express.
“Anyone who helps identify the man who stabbed Junaid will be offered a reward of Rs 2 lakh,” said Mohinder Singh, deputy superintendent of police, Haryana Railway Police. “The identity of the person who provides the information will be kept confidential.”
Singh said that the earlier reward amount found no takers. “Nobody came forward with any information that could prove to be helpful, despite the reward. We hope this hike will work as a better incentive.”
On June 22, Junaid and three of his brothers had boarded a local train from Delhi’s Sadar Bazar Station. A fight broke out between some passengers and the brothers over seats. The incident allegedly turned communal after a mob repeatedly called the brothers “anti-nationals” and “beef eaters” and threw their skull caps on the floor. Junaid was killed in the fight, while his brothers were hospitalised with stab wounds.
Five people have been arrested by the police so far. The accused are currently lodged in Neemka Jail, Faridabad. The police said all of them claimed they did not wield the knife that killed Junaid, but admitted to being a part of the mob that had hurled abuses at and manhandled the boys.
Pieces of bloodstained clothes, including two shirts, were also recovered from those arrested. The police said the clothes had been sent for DNA testing to a laboratory in Bhondsi, Gurgaon.
“If the blood is proven to be Junaid’s, then it will serve as strong evidence against the men,” said DSP Singh. “However, it will take several weeks for the reports of the tests to arrive. It can take up to a month for us to get the results.”
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had condemned the murder. Junaid’s family was given Rs 5 lakh in compensation by the District Red Cross in Faridabad on June 25. The Waqf Board chairperson had also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and a job to one of Junaid’s brothers.
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