Bullets fired by Hindu leaders hit two Dalits: CFSL report

PHAGWARA: The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, has confirmed that bullets injuring two Dalit youths, of which one died later, during the April 13 violent clash in Phagwara between members of Dalit outfits and Hindu right-wing groups, were fired from the licensed revolvers of four arrested Hindu outfit leaders.

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, July 15

The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, has confirmed that bullets injuring two Dalit youths, of which one died later, during the April 13 violent clash in Phagwara between members of Dalit outfits and Hindu right-wing groups, were fired from the licensed revolvers of four arrested Hindu outfit leaders.

Injured Dalit youth Yashwant Bobby had succumbed to his injuries at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana on April 29, while Kulwinder had sustained bullet injuries and was admitted to Rama Mandi Hospital.

Head of the three-member special investigating team (SIT) investigating clashes SP Jaskaran Singh Teja told The Tribune here on Sunday that it was not confirmed yet whose bullet had hit the deceased.

He said based on the CFSL report, the police had filed a challan before the trial court against all six arrested Hindu outfit leaders charging them with murder apart from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

After the arrest of Shiv Sena leaders Inderjit Karwal and Shivi Batta, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Rajiv Chahal and Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti state president Deepak Bhardwaj on April 14, the police had recovered their revolvers. These revolvers were sent to the CFSL at Chandigarh along with bullet shells recovered from the spot, the SP said.

The bullet that doctors removed from Bobby’s head was also sent to the CFSL. As the shape of some bullets was distorted, the forensic experts would clarify in their evidence during the course of case trial as to who is the main accused of the murder.

“All revolvers have been found in working condition,” he said, adding that the chargesheet for murder had also been filed against Tinka and Sunny Batta, who were arrested a few days later. He said the other challan had also been presented in the trial court against six Dalit youths.

Challan filed against six

Injured Dalit youth Yashwant Bobby had succumbed to his injuries at the DMC Hospital in Ludhiana on April 29, while Kulwinder had sustained bullet injuries and was admitted to Rama Mandi Hospital
Based on the CFSL report, the police had filed a challan before the trial court against all six arrested Hindu outfit leaders charging them with murder apart from SC/ST Act
The police had recovered the revolvers after the arrest of Shiv Sena leaders Inderjit Karwal and Shivi Batta, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Rajiv Chahal and Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti state president Deepak Bhardwaj on April 14