Two people have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district in connection with the death of a 24-year-old Muslim truck driver, who allegedly died after being assaulted by a group of Kanwariyas following a road accident.
The incident took place in Garhmukhteshwar on July 31. The victim, Azeem Ali, died at a Delhi hospital on August 4, four days after the alleged assault.
Police arrested Lokesh and Shivam on Thursday, according to Hapur Police.
Seven People Named in FIR
Police had registered an FIR against seven people, including four Kanwariyas, following Ali’s death.
Five people Lokesh, Shivam, Ankit, Farman and Manish and two unidentified persons have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to murder, rioting, and voluntarily causing hurt.
The arrests came after Ali’s father, Mohd Intezar, filed a complaint alleging that Farman and his associates assaulted his son and left him critically injured.
Assault Allegedly Followed Road Accident
According to the police case, Ali was driving his truck when it collided with an autorickshaw being used by Kanwariyas in Garhmukhteshwar.
The collision allegedly injured Farman, who was standing near the vehicle. Following the accident, Ali was allegedly attacked by a group of men.
A purported video of the incident has circulated widely on social media. The footage appears to show a group of men assaulting Ali in the presence of a police officer.
Ali was initially taken to a hospital in Meerut. His condition later deteriorated and he was shifted to Delhi, where he reportedly went into a coma before dying on August 4.
Counter-Complaint Filed by Other Side
Farman’s father has also filed a separate complaint, alleging that his son was hit by Ali’s truck in the incident.
Based on the complaint, police registered a separate case against Ali on charges of attempted murder. The second FIR states that Farman suffered serious injuries and was receiving treatment.
The two cases are now being investigated separately as police probe the circumstances surrounding the road accident, the alleged assault and Ali’s subsequent death.
Incident During Kanwar Yatra
The incident occurred during the annual Kanwar Yatra, in which devotees known as Kanwariyas travel long distances to collect water from the Ganga near Haridwar and carry it back to their respective states for religious offerings.
The yatra began on July 30 and concluded on August 11.
