The Special Investigation Team in charge of probing the Kasganj communal clashes filed two chargesheets on Friday, The Indian Express reported. One chargesheet was about the murder of Abhishek alias Chandan Gupta and the other was related to the violence that followed the murder.
Violence broke out in Kasganj on January 26 when a group of bike-borne men, believed to be associated with Hindutva groups, allegedly disrupted a Republic Day programme in a Muslim-dominated colony. They are believed to have come with saffron flags and the Indian tricolour and got involved in arguments with the residents.
Gun shots were fired by both sides, according to the police, and Gupta was killed in the exchange.
“The chargesheet against 24 accused in the Chandan Gupta murder has been filed in the court of the Kasganj chief judicial magistrate,” Inspector Ramesh Chand told The Indian Express. “The court has taken cognizance of the chargesheet.” Twenty-three of the 24 accused are lodged in jail while one person is absconding.
The document identifies the prime accused as Saleem and his two brothers Rashid and Wasim. The police are awaiting the ballistics report to verify allegations against Saleem.
In the violence case, investigating officer Inspector Mohar Singh said 36 accused, including 27 Muslims and nine Hindus, were lodged in jail. “The chargesheeted persons are accused of arson, violence, stone pelting and also firing on police party,” Singh said.
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