By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jun: Three days after the killing of BJP leader Vinod Kashyap in Vikasnagar, the atmosphere in the village appears calm but the victim’s family remains firm on its demands before the administration. The family has insisted that the accused be dealt with through encounter and that no legal action be taken against those who had protested in their support and had demanded strict police action against the culprits. The family members have also made it clear that only after these assurances will they cooperate in the post-mortem proceedings, which are necessary before Kashyap’s cremation. Senior police officials have been continuously engaging with the family since morning, but the family has not relented. Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces continues across the village, which witnessed arson, stone pelting, bulldozer action and highway blockade yesterday. However, later this evening, some sources claim that upon constant counselling by the Police, the family of Vinod Kashyap has finally relented and has agreed to post-mortem and the last rites.
It may also be reminded that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has strongly condemned the murder and the violence that followed the murder stating that attempts to disturb the peace and social harmony of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand by violent and extremist elements will not be tolerated. He said those who dare to challenge the law will face punishment so severe that it will deter similar acts in future. Local MLA Munna Singh Chauhan is also reported to have expressed his anguish over the violence that followed the murder.
Meanwhile, yesterday rumours were circulated on social media about internet services being suspended in Sahaspur. Circle Officer Vivek Singh Kutiyal clarified that these reports are false and misleading, confirming that internet services are functioning normally. He appealed to the public not to believe or share unverified information and to rely only on official sources. He warned that those spreading false and misleading content on social media will face legal action.
It may be recalled that violence erupted on 13 June in Bairagiwala village under Sahaspur when a dispute over irrigation water escalated between two groups. According to police, 30 to 40 people from the Muslim community attacked members of a Hindu family, including Ashok Kumar, Vinod Kumar and Rajesh Kumar. Vinod was struck on the head with a hammer and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The incident triggered widespread outrage as Vinod was not only a BJP leader but also associated with several other Hindu organisations.
Yesterday, enraged supporters had set fire to the houses of the accused, pelted stones at police and attempted to block the highway. The administration responded with bulldozer action against the accused and deployed heavy police force, including ITBP, to restore order. Senior officers including the SSP and SP City remained on the ground to control the situation.
The Police have registered cases against around 30 to 40 individuals, including Razzak, Aman, Yunus, Javed, Imtiaz, Shahbaz, Sharafat Ali, Masoom, Adil, Shamoon, Salman and Intezar. Four accused, namely Razzak, Salman, Javed and Shahbaz, have been arrested so far. The administration continues efforts to pacify the victim’s family and maintain peace in the region, while investigations and legal proceedings move forward under tight security.
