Lucknow: The main accused in the Saharanpur violence and Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar was on Thursday arrested from Himachal Pradesh.
The 30-year-old activist was nabbed from Dalhousie area of Himachal Pradesh, Additional DG (Meerut Zone) Anand Kumar told PTI over phone. He will be brought to Saharanpur on a transit remand. Earlier, two members of the Bhim Army were arrested in Saharanpur for their alleged involvement in the Ramnagar caste violence on May 9 after one person was killed and several others were injured in a clash between Dalits and Thakurs at Shabbirpur village in the district on May 5.
About a dozen police vehicles were set ablaze and 12 policemen were injured on May 9.
Chandrasekhar, who had since been evading arrest, was carrying a reward of Rs 12,000 on his head.
The Uttar Pradesh police had recently constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising 10 inspectors to probe 40 cases, registered between May 5 to May 23, in Saharanpur district which has seen bouts of inter-caste clashes last month. Chandrasekhar had shot to limelight after holding a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against violence on Dalits in Saharanpur. He had earlier said that he would surrender if 37 “innocent” Dalits were released on bail.
I feel that the UP government has failed to address the issues of the Dalits. The chief minister has lost control over the police and the administration, he said. (PTI)
