Dhirendra Singh, the main accused in the Ballia shooting case, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday. A team of UP Special Task Force (STF) team arrested Singh near Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow. Two other accused — Santosh Yadav and Marajeet Yadav — were also arrested. So far, 10 people have been arrested in the shooting case.
A police official said that arms were also recovered from the possession of Dhirendra Singh’s accomplices, Santosh Yadav and Marajeet Yadav.
News agency ANI quoted IG STF Amitabh Yash as saying: “Dhirendra Singh and his accomplices were arrested from Lucknow today. They’re being questioned at an undisclosed location. Arms recovered from the possession of his accomplices. the STF is gathering more information on the weapons used at the time of the incident.”
#WATCH Special Task Force (STF) of UP Police arrests the main accused of Ballia incident, Dhirendra Singh, from Lucknow.A man had died after bullets were fired during a meeting for allotment of shops under government quota, in Durjanpur village of Ballia on Thusday. pic.twitter.com/rfiS2cbRA0
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 18, 2020
According to STF sources, Dhirendra Singh wanted to surrender and was residing in Lucknow for the past two days.
“He was ready to surrender. But before he could, the STF nabbed him,”source said.
The source also said that Singh had contacts with several BJP leader and MLAs in Uttar Pradesh
Dhirendra Singh was absconding ever since a firing incident resulted in the death of Jai Prakash (46) as heated argument broke out over the allotment of ration shops at an event attended by the local police and administration.
“BJP SUPPORTING ACCUSED”
Congress general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting the Ballia shooting accused who has been absconding since the firing took place.
.. @narendramodi @JPNadda @AmitShah ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???
2/2
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 18, 2020
“ACCUSED WORKED AS BJP WORKER”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Surendra Singh said on Friday that the accused in the Ballia shooting incident, Dhirendra Pratap Singh, worked as a saffron party worker. MLA Surendra Singh also said the Ballia shooting incident, in which a person died, was unfortunate.
Speaking with India Today TV, Surendra Singh said, “Dhirendra Pratap Singh worked as a BJP worker. The firing incident is unfortunate. The sister, father, and family members of Dhirendra Pratap Singh were also injured in the incident.”
“ACCUSED TO BE CHARGED WITH NSA, GANGSTER ACT”
On Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Police said that those accused in the killing of a 46-year-old man in UP’s Ballia will be charged under the National Security Act and the Gangster Act.
Under the NSA, one can be detained without a charge for up to 12 months if the authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to national security or law and order.
Under Section 14 of the Gangsters Act, a district magistrate can order attachment of a property, whether movable or immovable, if there is reason to believe that it has been acquired by a gangster as commission for an offence triable under this law.
“I HAVE NOT FIRED ANY BULLET”
Two days after the shooting incident, the accused came out with a video claiming that he did not fire at anyone. Instead, he accused police and local administration of corruption and mismanagement.
In the video, Dhirendra Pratap Singh said, “I have not fired any bullet. A proper investigation should be carried out in this incident.” He went on to say that he was attacked along with his family and he somehow managed to escape the assault and save his life.
“The ration shops where to be allotted on that day and many officials had come for the allotment process. I had met the SDM and the BDO regarding the tense situation. I had apprised them that the things were getting bad in the area,” said the accused.
Dhirendra further accused the SDM, BDO and other officials of corruption and also claimed that they were influencing the allotment process of ration shops.
He has also blamed the police and local administration for the firing incident.