Two main accused held in Dadri lynching

New Delhi: Bishada village, where the horrific incident took place Monday night, turned into a political arena on Saturday as top politicians, led by Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Arvind Kejriwal, trooped in to meet the bereaved family and traded charges over attempts to communalise the tragedy.

As villagers pelted stones at mediapersons, the authorities later said they had sealed the village following a request from the victim’s son for “peace” in their hour of grief.

District magistrate N.P. Singh said the victim’s son, Sartaj, had given a written request that the family does not want to meet anyone as the steady stream of visitors was causing them harassment.

The UP police on Saturday claimed to have arrested the two main accused in the case.  The two young men, identified as Vishal Rana and Shivam Kumar, in their early twenties, were arrested after a five-day manhunt, the police said. According to the police, Vishal is alleged to be among the main conspirators and, incidentally, is the son of a local BJP leader.

He allegedly organised a meeting in which people were provoked to attack Ikhlaq’s family. The arrested persons have been kept at an undisclosed destination. Additional district magistrate Rajesh Yadav said the aggrieved family has accused Vishal, Chandrapal, Arun, Hari Om and his brother. Police sources also said the families of the accused have not been cooperating with the investigation.