Kawal case: 6 years on, police yet to bring accused of Shahnawaz murder to court

  • | Tuesday | 12th February, 2019

It was not until May 30, 2018 that summons were issued by the court to the accused to appear. On the contrary, the case was very much moving ahead in the FIR filed in the murder of Sachin and Gaurav. The entire approach has been one-sided.”According to Hasan Mohsin , Saleem’s lawyer, “The first warrants were issued on September 4, 2018. Only after I protested against police action in court that the case was reopened on December 17, 2014, but for the next four years, virtually nothing happened. In retaliation, another seven people from Shahnawaz’ community lynched the two cousins.

MEERUT: It has been six years since two FIRs were filed on August 27, 2013, pertaining to two cases of murder that took place in Kawal region of Muzaffarnagar , triggering UP’s worst-ever riots in the district and adjoining areas. While all seven accused have been sentenced to life in one case, in the second case, police have not been able to bring the six accused to court even once despite several judicial interventions, including non bailable warrants being issued against them.On the fateful day, cousins Sachin and Gaurav along with six others allegedly thrashed Shahnawaz for harassing a woman member of their family so much so that he succumbed to injuries. In retaliation, another seven people from Shahnawaz’ community lynched the two cousins. Both sides filed FIRs against each other.While killers of the cousins have been sentenced to life on Friday, police have not been able to produce any of the six accused of lynching Shahnawaz to court even once.A hearing was scheduled on Monday in the case but owing to advocates’ strike, the same has been postponed for Wednesday.Accusing police of adopting delaying tactics, deceased Shahnawaz’s father Mohd Salim, 74, told TOI, “After the FIR was filed on August 27, 2013, police initially gave a clean chit to all accused and submitted a final report. Only after I protested against police action in court that the case was reopened on December 17, 2014, but for the next four years, virtually nothing happened. Police kept delaying, citing investigations. It was not until May 30, 2018 that summons were issued by the court to the accused to appear. But no one appeared. On the contrary, the case was very much moving ahead in the FIR filed in the murder of Sachin and Gaurav. The entire approach has been one-sided.”According to Hasan Mohsin , Saleem’s lawyer, “The first warrants were issued on September 4, 2018. Police did nothing to ensure their presence in court. Then again on October 3, 2018, non-bailable warrants were issued with an expiry date of January 31, 2019.”Refuting the charges, SSP, Muzaffarnagar, Sudhir Kumar said “Non bailable warrant was issued in October last year and the time period given to the accused to appear before the court expired on January 31. Now, the next hearing is on February 13. If the accused do not turn up, procedure for attachment of their properties will begin. We are not into any delaying tactics at all.”

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