Bulandshahr violence: Police donate Rs. 70lakh for slain cop's family
The family of Uttar Pradesh police inspector Subodh Singh, who was slain during the Bulandshahr violence, has been given Rs. 70 lakh as compensation by the state police, over and above the Rs. 50 lakh that was given by the state government. The cheque was handed over on Friday by ADG police, Meerut zone, Prashant Kumar. Here are the details.
Contribution equal to one day salary of Meerut police personnel
"Our officer died a heroic death while on duty. Apart from the government's compensation...we too have made a small contribution to this effect willingly. The amount of Rs. 70 lakh...is a voluntary contribution equivalent to one day salary of police personnel posted in Meerut zone," said ADG Kumar.
Backstory: The Bulandshahr violence that unfolded on December 3
On December 3 last year, protests had erupted on the Bulandshahr-Syana highway over alleged cow slaughter, and when cops arrived to mollify the protesters, violence broke out. In the chaos which followed, violent protesters pelted stones, and even opened fire on cops, prompting police to fire back. Singh, who had been present there, was first injured, and then eventually cornered and murdered.
The injured Singh was murdered in cold blood
It's understood that Singh sustained an injury in the violence, and was profusely bleeding. While he was being rushed to a hospital, protesters gave chase, cornered him, and murdered him. A chilling video of the incident shows Singh's limp body in a police SUV, and voices are heard saying "goli maaro" (shoot him). The autopsy report later confirmed that Singh died of a gunshot.
The prime accused have all been arrested
Since then, over 35 people have been held in connection to the case, including one Prashant Natt - the person who shot Singh. Other accused, including Bajrang Dal's Yogesh Raj and BJP's Yuva Morcha leader Shikhar Agarwal have also been arrested. Meanwhile, following Singh's demise, the Yogi Adityanath government announced Rs. 50 lakh compensation, and Adityanath himself paid Singh's family a visit.
Singh's aggrieved son had spoken out against religious violence
"My father wanted me to be a good citizen who doesn't incite violence in society in the name of religion. Today my father lost his life in this Hindu-Muslim dispute, tomorrow whose father will lose his life?," Singh's son Abhishek had said.