Riot accused BJP MLA declared absconder

BJP MLA Rajkumar Thukral, on the run since an FIR was lodged against him in connection with 2011 Rudrapur communal riots, has been declared an absconder by a local court.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashutosh Mishra declared Thukral an absconder yesterday on a CB-CID petition seeking an order to this effect.

A notice has been pasted at the local MLA's residence asking him to surrender himself before the court within a month failing which property attachment proceedings will be inititated against him, Udhamsingh Nagar SSP Ridhim Agrawal said.

Thukral has been charged with instigating communal clashes in Rudrapur on October 2 in which four persons were killed and over 12 injured.

He has been on the run since a non-bailable warrant was issued against him in connection with the case on October 15 this year.

The opposition BJP has alleged Thukral is being framed at the instance of a Congress leader who had lost to him in the assembly elections last year.