Junaid's killing: Four more arrested in Haryana

Police have arrested four more people in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Muslim youth Junaid on a train near Ballabhgarh in Haryana's Faridabad district. But the main accused, who stabbed the victim, continues to be at large.

With this, the total arrests in the case has gone up to five, including a 50-year-old man. A few people were being questioned in this regard though no fresh witnesses have come forward.

A Haryana Police officer told IANS here on Wednesday that raids were being conducted, following investigations, to nab the main accused and others involved in the killing of Junaid on board the Mathura-bound train from Delhi.

The official said the older man had got into an argument with the victim and his brothers on the train over seat sharing which ultimately led to the murder.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday finally condemned the incident. Haryana has a BJP government since October 2014.

"The state government has provided financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family," Khattar said.

On Thursday night, Junaid and his friends Hasib, Shakir and Mohsin were returning to their village on a Mathura-bound passenger train after shopping at Delhi's Sadar Bazaar.

In his police complaint, Hasib said at least 15-20 persons boarded the train at Okhla railway station and asked them to vacate the seats for them.

All four were thrashed all the way from Tughlakabad (in Delhi) to the Ballabhgarh railway station and were attacked with sharp-edged weapons and later thrown out of the train at Asaoti railway station in Palwal district.

Junaid succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night in a hospital. His three friends who were injured, two of them critically, are warded at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Trauma Centre in Delhi.

Media reports earlier said the murderous attack followed rumours about beef eating by the four youths.

--IANS

js/mr