Bulandshahr: Accused in UP cop's death, sent to 14-day judicial custody

Armyman Jitendra Malik alias Jeetu Fauji, who has been accused of allegedly killing Uttar Pradesh police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday midnight arrested Fauji, one of the suspects in the case.

Jeetu's advocate Sanjay Sharma told ANI, "For prima facie investigation, he has been sent for judicial custody. According to his family, Jeetu is innocent and in past he has never been involved in such things neither he has any police record. There is also no eye witness who claims that he was instigating the violence. He has been named only on the basis of his presence. Tomorrow we are going to move a bail application in the lower court. He was here on leave and had to join the duty on December 4. He was framed on the basis of his presence. We have opposed Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which police have mentioned during the arguements in the court."

Crying foul, Fauji's father-in-law, Jaibhagwan said, "Police is framing him. He is not involved in this case and is completely innocent."

He was detained by the 22 Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore town in Jammu and Kashmir and was handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police for further investigation on Saturday.

"He accepted he was there when crowd started gathering. Prima facie, it has been found true. It's not yet ascertained if he is the one who shot Inspector or Sumit. He said he went there with villagers, but denied pelting stones on police. Forensic of his mobile will be done," informed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhishek Singh of Special Task Force in Meerut.

Earlier on Saturday, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that full cooperation will be extended to the Uttar Pradesh Police in the investigation of the incident.

On December 3, clashes erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr after cattle carcasses were found in a field, which led to an agitation by locals demanding the closure of all illegal animal slaughterhouses. In the protests that ensued, policeman Kumar and a civilian were killed.