Violence had erupted in Haryana’s Nuh at the end of July, killing six people and injuring several others. A senior police officer told PTI that Bajrangi alias Raj Kumar and his associates had wielded illegal weapons during the VHP procession that came under attack in Muslim-majority Nuh on July 31.

While Bittu Bajrangi had been arrested by Faridabad police two days after the violence (over related another case) he was released on bail after he joined the investigation. He was accused of making inflammatory speeches and brandishing weapons in public.

“I was on duty with my team 300 metres away from the Nalhar temple. We saw a mob of around 20 people carrying swords and trishuls marching to Nalhar temple. To maintain law and order my team snatched and seized their weapons. After this, they started raising slogans against the police and manhandled the team,” said a complaint filed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Usha Kundu. 

The ASP said that the group had squatted in front of the police vehicles where their weapons were kept. Soon after this, they had opened the rear gates of the vehicle and fled with weapons. 

“Bittu and others who had misbehaved with us and threatened to kill us were identified in the footage,” ASP Kundu said in her complaint.

Bajrangi was he was questioned and later arrested from Faridabad following a fresh FIR based on Kundu’s complaint. The FIR cited several sections of the Indian Penal Code including 148 (riots), 149 (unlawful assembly), 332 (causing hurt), 353, 186 (obstructing a public servant from discharging duty), 395, 397 (armed robbery), and 506 (criminal intimidation) as well as provisions of the Arms Act.

(With inputs from agencies)

Updated: 16 Aug 2023, 04:27 PM IST