Allahabad student murder: Main accused arrested after five days
The main accused in the brutal killing of a law student in Allahabad has been arrested five days after the murder. Vijay Shankar Singh, an Indian Railways employee who was absconding since the crime, was nabbed from Sultanpur, his home district. Police say he has links to a local politician and strongman. The murder saw students taking to streets and launching violent protests.
Dileep was beaten with hockey sticks, metal rods and bricks
26-year-old Dileep Saroj, a Dalit student of Allahabad Degree College, was out with friends for dinner on February 9. As they sat on the stairs of Kalika restaurant at Colonelganj, some men brushed past them. An altercation ensued and they started hitting Dileep with hockey sticks, metal rods and bricks. A waiter attacked him, which was the fatal blow. He died two days later.
Violent protests by students rock Allahabad
Students of Allahabad University and members of Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha and All India Students Association pelted stones and set a bus afire in protest. BSP chief Mayawati blamed BJP's "narrow, casteist politics" for the murder. Former CM Akhilesh Yadav, demanding a compensation of Rs. 50L for Dileep's family, said UP is "in the grip of criminal elements and police is killing innocents in encounters."
Cops, 100m away from crime scene, suspended for not responding
According to reports, seven people have been arrested, including the waiter and Singh, who has links with former BJP lawmaker Chandra Bhadra Singh alias Sonu Singh. Sonu Singh faces charges of murder, rioting and more. Three cops have been suspended for negligence. Two others have been suspended for not responding despite receiving a call from the restaurant staff while they were parked 100m away.
