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A first information report has been registered against six members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini over allegedly killing a Muslim man for his role in the elopement of a Hindu girl in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.
The deceased has been identified as Ghulam Mohammad, 59, a neighbour of Yusuf, 22, who had been on the run for the last week after allegedly abducting a Hindu girl.
A 17-year-old youth has been detained by the Alwar Police in connection with the Pehlu Khan lynching case.
The accused, who is a school student, was identified on the basis of a video in which a mob is seen assaulting Khan and others, Investigating Officer Parmal Gurjar said on Wednesday.
The youth was sent to a juvenile home, the officer said.
Several accused have already been arrested in the case.
Efforts are on to identify and arrest the other accused visible in the videos shot during the attack, the officer said.
Khan, who hailed from Haryana, was attacked by cow vigilantes in Behror when he along with others was allegedly transporting cows illegally from Jaipur to Haryana.
Khan died during treatment at a hospital.
Ghulam’s son has alleged that members of HYV are involved in his father’s death.
Superintendent of Police, Mann Singh Chauhan, said an FIR had been lodged against six Hindu Yuva Vahini members and the investigation is underway in the matter.
According to reports, the incident is linked to the elopement of a local Bharatiya Janata Party worker’s daughter.
HYV was founded by incumbent Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Adityanath had warned the workers of HYV to maintain decent behaviour in whatever work they do.
He had also advised them not to misuse the saffron colour, as the image of the outfit or the BJP would suffer.
"I request the HYV leaders and workers to behave with decency," said Adityanath at a closed-door meeting with the Vahini leaders of the Gorakhpur region.
Defending his party, Adityanath added that anyone with saffron scarf who commits any illegal act is not always a HYV leader.
"It often happens that an unknown person with a saffron scarf or dress commits any indecent and illegal act but the HYV and the BJP organisations get blamed," added Adityanath.
Image only for representation purpose. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters