Congress Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan was on Friday remanded to two days police custody after he was arrested by the Nuh Police a day earlier on charges of inciting violence during the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Jalabhishek Yatra over a month ago. Six persons were killed and several injured in the violence that later spread to parts of South Haryana.
Mobile internet and bulk SMS services were suspended in Nuh for two days and prohibitory orders preventing the gathering of five or more people imposed as a precautionary measure.
Superintendent of Police, Nuh, Narendra Bijarniya, in a press conference, said the interrogation of the accused arrested in connection with the violence at Nagina’s Badkali Chowk on July 31 and the technical analysis had revealed the involvement of the Congress legislator.
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“The interrogation of those directly involved in violence at Badkali Chowk had revealed that they were in direct contact with MLA Mamman Khan. He himself was present at the spot a little before the violence erupted. Several government vehicles were damaged and an oil mill was set ablaze during the violence at Badkali Chowk,” said Mr. Bijarniya.
As many as 330 people have been arrested and 60 FIRs registered in connection with the violence during the religious procession, said the senior police officer. Eleven people were booked for inciting violence through social media and five of them were arrested.
The arrest of Mr. Khan came two days after Bajrang Dal member and self-styled cow vigilante, Mohit alias Monu Manesar, was arrested on Tuesday for alleged provocative posts on social media before the Jalabhishek Yatra on August 28.
Haryana Congress Legislative Party deputy leader and Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed condemned the arrest saying that the government was trying to hide its failure to prevent the violence despite prior intelligence inputs by implicating the innocents.
“Congress MLA Mamman Khan has no role in the riots. He is being framed. We will fight it legally and have full faith in the judicial system,” said Mr. Ahmed. He also criticised the government for the delay in arresting Monu Manesar.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij had a fortnight ago said in the State assembly that Congress was responsible for the riots in Nuh and there was evidence against the party’s MLA Mamman Khan. Mr. Khan was then twice summoned by the Nuh Police to join the investigation, but he did not turn up.
He moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 11 seeking protection from being implicated in the riots case and arrest. He had also sought directions for constituting a high-level Special Investigation Team comprising officers not below the rank of Inspector General of Police to investigate the violence.
During a hearing on his petition on Thursday, Haryana government counsel told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the legislator was “nominated” as accused in one of the First Information Reports registered in connection with the communal violence.
