Prayagraj police arrested three youths on Wednesday and claimed to have worked out the crude bomb explosion case in which one person was killed.
Police said the ones arrested were among those who had hurled a crude bomb from a graveyard opposite polling centre to create sensation on polling day.
The crude bomb was hurled close to a polling centre in Kareli area on February 27 and had claimed life of Arjun Kol, a 21-year-old labourer and injured another.
A countrymade firearm was recovered from the accused. A live bomb was also recovered from the graveyard from where the bomb was hurled in February. Police claimed it was defused by the bomb disposal squad.
SSP Ajay Kumar said those arrested were identified as Hasan, Asif aka Inne, both from Gaus Nagar locality and Moinuddin aka Munna from Mastan Market area. He said six others were likely to be arrested soon.
Police said during interrogation the accused admitted that the explosions were part of a plan to create disturbance during polling.
The accused told the police that a person handed two crude bombs to Hasan, Asif, Moinuddin and their accomplices. They told the police that on reaching the graveyard opposite the polling centre at Lekhpal Training school on 60 feet road in Kareli, Moinuddin threw a bomb which fell on the dried leaves inside graveyard premises itself but didn’t explode. Then, a second bomb was thrown by Hasan which exploded on hitting the handle of Arjun’s bicycle while he was passing from 60 feet road. Arjun died on the spot and on the basis of statement by Arjun’s cousin Sanjay Kol, who was accompanying him on another bicycle, it was earlier assumed that Arjun was carrying the crude bomb. However, CCTV footages later revealed that Arjun was not carrying any bag with him.
{{/usCountry}}The accused told the police that a person handed two crude bombs to Hasan, Asif, Moinuddin and their accomplices. They told the police that on reaching the graveyard opposite the polling centre at Lekhpal Training school on 60 feet road in Kareli, Moinuddin threw a bomb which fell on the dried leaves inside graveyard premises itself but didn’t explode. Then, a second bomb was thrown by Hasan which exploded on hitting the handle of Arjun’s bicycle while he was passing from 60 feet road. Arjun died on the spot and on the basis of statement by Arjun’s cousin Sanjay Kol, who was accompanying him on another bicycle, it was earlier assumed that Arjun was carrying the crude bomb. However, CCTV footages later revealed that Arjun was not carrying any bag with him.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, a case was lodged against Arjun and Sanjay under section 304 of IPC and Explosive Act. “Now, relevant sections 302, 120 B, 34 of IPC, 07 criminal act and 4/5 explosive act have been slapped on the three accused against whom action under Gangster and National Security Act might also be taken,” the SSP added.
The police, so far, have not found any past criminal record of the accused. “Police recovered a crude bomb from the graveyard which was defused,” he added. The SSP said a cash reward of ₹25,000 has been announced for the police team that worked out the case.
“The crude bomb was to cause disturbance and create panic on poll day but it failed as Arjun was not a local. The accused who have been arrested were in touch with those who had hatched the conspiracy to create disturbance. No money was paid to the accused for carrying out the attack,” the SSP said. “The conspirators belonged to an organisation,” the SSP said but refused to divulge details.