Saleem Javed, one of the main accused in the murder of Chandan Gupta who was killed during the Kasganj violence in Uttar Pradesh, confessed to firing at the deceased during the tiranga yatra that was taken out on Republic Day.
During the interrogation, Javed admitted that he had opened fire and the bullets had hit Gupta. He further revealed that his brothers Vaseem and Naseem too had opened fire. Javed also admitted that they had kept country made pistols, bombs and cartridges at home.
In the wake of these revelations, the cops have accelerated their efforts to nab Vaseem and Naseem, who continue to be on the run.
It may be recalled that cops had arrested Javed from Hazara area of Kasganj on Wednesday. He was produced in court and sent to judicial custody.
According to Kasganj SP Piyush Srivastava, the police managed to get only so much out of Javed during the prolonged interrogation.
Police sources said after the accused brothers fled after the incident and were staying at the house of one of their relatives. When the police began their search operations, they fled from there.
Meanwhile, the police have so far arrested 42 accused, including Javed, and have registered 11 cases in connection with the Kasganj violence. Fifteen other accused are still absconding, police sources said.
The STF and crime branch cops and other police teams are conducting search operations to nab the remaining accused. Aligarh IG Sanjeev Gupta is monitoring the efforts.
Sushil Gupta, father of Chandan Gupta, alleged in his complaint that Javed and his brothers had stopped Chandan and asked him raise pro-Pakistan slogans. The accused fired at him when Chandan refused to do so, he added.
Sushil Gupta has also demanded security cover for his family and a gun license.
