Bulandshahr Mob Violence: Statue of Accused Installed in Village

A statue of a riot-accused, who was killed in the Bulandshahr mob violence last year, has been installed in a village to honour him as a proud gau rakshak. The plaque placed with the statue names him as "Gau Rakshak Vir Shahid Sumit Dalal".

Sumit Dalal died in the mob violence at Chirangvathi police station following rumours of an alleged cow slaughter incident in Mahav village on December 3, 2018. Subodh Kumar Singh, an inspector of the Uttar Pradesh police, had also lost his life in the incident.

The statue has been erected by Sumit's father Amarjeet Singh, along with others, without taking permission from the local police.

Singh has reportedly also threatened to convert to Islam and end his life since "he had been betrayed by his own community".

According to the police reports, the post-mortem report stated that Sumit was hit by a bullet from a 0.32 calibre weapon, the same which was also used to kill the police inspector.

Amarjeet Singh has also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident in order to "expose police misconduct at every level right from the murder of my son until his cremation".

Speaking to NewsClick, local police sources told NewsClick, "We are investigating into the matter as a few people objected because of the statue. The matter is very sensitive, as no one took permission."

Singh, however, said that no permission was required since the statue has been installed on private land.

Sumit's father also alleged that he has not received the Rs 10 lakh compensation announced by CM Yogi Adityanath and also the money promised by a local MLA and MP.

Earlier, seven accused in the Subodh Kumar Singh murder case had received a heroic welcome by their supporters who also chanted slogans of Jai Shri Ram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Matram when the accused stepped out from the jail.

Commenting over the statue row, the slain inspector's wife, Rajani Singh told NewsClick, "Sumit is not just another accused, he was also leading the protest. Everybody has watched that video, which had gone viral on the social media in which he was pelting stones and was seen abusing. In spite of all this, if someone installed his statue, then it's a matter of shame. If Sumit is veer, it is an insult of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country."

"Their courage is growing because this BJP government is supporting these goons. Judges in this case are also under pressure and the word saw closely how seven accused in this case received the heroic welcome from their supporters. And when I ask for justice for my husband, then the government becomes deaf and dumb," she added.