An accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots was found dead on Saturday, 10 November, at his home in Kutba village in Uttar Pradesh. A bullet injury was found on Ramdas alias Kaala’s body, who faced charges over killing of eight members of a minority community. The 30-year-old was currently out on bail.
According to The Indian Express, the police are currently probing the death as a revenge killing. Kaala’s brother alleged that Kaala was shot after gunmen barged into his house.
A case was registered against four unidentified people on Sunday. The police said no weapon was found near Kaala’s body.
The police raided a rehabilitation camp in nearby Palda village, where Muslims of Kutba moved after the riots.
For “precautionary measure,” additional police and PAC personnel have been deployed in the area, The Indian Express reported. In the FIR, Kaala’s brother claimed that he was once attacked earlier as well, and that several people were angry over Kaala’s bail.
However, Sudhir Kumar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar told The Indian Express that Kaala’s death is not connected to the riots case against him.
“The FIR into the death was lodged today, almost after 24 hours… We have recovered broken bangles from the spot. The evidence found suggests it could also be a case of suicide. Several articles have been sent to the laboratory and picture would be clear soon.”Sudhir Kumar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar to The Indian Express.
Kaala’s family members claimed that several neighbours saw the assailants fleeing after they shot him.
Mahendra Tyagi, the acting in-charge of Shahpur Police Station told the The Indian Express that no arrests have been made so far and the raids at Palda rehabilitation camp also has not given any clues.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)