Days after boy was killed during celebratory firing, cops arrest 2 accused

Two absconding persons, including the key accused, have been arrested in connection with the death of an eight-year-old boy in Shamli district during celebratory firing by Samajwadi Party workers.

The accused, Gayyur Ali and Inam, were nabbed in Kairana area on Wednesday night, Circle Officer Nishank Sharma said. Ali, who is the husband of newly-elected block pramukh Nafisa, and Inam are facing non-bailable warrants in connection with the February 7 firing incident.

A local court had on Wednesday issued non-bailable warrants against the five absconding accused.

The three others -- Mumtaz, Nafis, Mursalim -- wanted in the case have been asked by the court to surrender by February 15.

The incident took place when SP workers were celebrating the victory of party candidate Nafisa in the local body polls from the town when eight-year-old Sami, who was passing by Kairana area in a rickshaw, was killed in the firing.

Police have booked 200 unidentified persons under various sections including sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 and 143 (unlawful assembly), and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code in this connection.

Police have also announced a reward of Rs 5,000 for any information on the absconding accused.

SP leader and Kairana MLA Nahid Hasan had been earlier booked along with 30 of his supporters for allegedly threatening two journalists from a leading English news channel who had gone to cover the incident.

Hasan had refuted allegations that he or his aides had attacked the two journalists and said it was an attempt by the opposition to tarnish the image of the ruling party.

The incident has invited sharp criticism with the Bharatiya Janata Party describing the Akhilesh Yadav government as a ‘Mughal sultanate’ that has issued licences to its “goons” to do what they want.