Jagran correspondent, Moradabad. It was already Thursday evening. The movement of vehicles on the road had reduced and the cold of December was gradually increasing. Then suddenly a bike coming from behind overtook the Thar vehicle. He gave a hand signal to stop. The next moment there was a sound of abuses and then the attacker appeared waving the weapon.
This was not an ordinary confrontation, but an attempt to silence the witness, but the police have not yet caught any attacker. There seems to be a possibility that the incident was being planned in jail. On December 25, around 7:15 pm, Ajay Kumar, a resident of Naya Moradabad, probably had no idea that testifying in the Anuj murder case would be such a big threat to his life.
Ajay Kumar was going towards Bijnor with his partner Saif Ali. For some reason, while returning, when he reached the turn near Kishanpur in Chhajlat police station area, two youths riding a bike approached him from behind. According to the victim's FIR, the bikers abused him, pointed their weapons at him and clearly said that if he did not stop his advocacy and testimony in Anuj's case, he too would be killed in the same manner.
The firing started as soon as the threat was given. One bullet hit the driver's side window of the Thar vehicle, the other on the front glass. There was silence on the road due to the sound of bullets. To save their lives, Ajay Kumar and his companions left the car and ran to a nearby sugarcane field, hid there and called 112 and sought help from the police.
Police reached the spot within a few minutes, but by then the attackers had fled. This incident has raised a big question regarding the safety of witnesses in Moradabad. Anuj murder case is not a trivial matter. Despite this, no security was given to the main witness. There was neither police monitoring nor any kind of protection.
Local people say that if the lives of those who testify in murder cases are not safe then how can justice be expected. This attack is not just on Ajay Kumar but is a direct attack on the justice system. Another serious aspect is coming to light in the matter.
According to the police, investigation is also being done on whether the accused in jail carried out this attack through their associates sitting outside. It is considered necessary to investigate the calls, meetings and contacts made from the jail. Even before this, in such cases, allegations of conspiracy have been made from jail itself.
After the incident, the police have registered a case and started investigation, but till now no concrete information has come to light regarding the identity or arrest of the attackers. CCTV footage of the weapon, bike and roads used in the firing is being investigated, but the results are still awaited.
The victim has demanded from the police that action should be taken against all the named accused under strict sections, she and her family should be given immediate security and the network of the accused in jail should be thoroughly investigated. It is not easy to reach the court to testify, and when the price of testimony has to be paid with life, the fear becomes even deeper. The incident has left the question whether the witnesses will be able to tell the truth or will the fear of bullets keep them silent?
This attack is related to an old murder
This attack was not sudden. Ajay Kumar is a witness and advocate in the Anuj murder case. The shadow of the same case is clearly visible in this firing. In his complaint, the victim has described Kamalveer as the main conspirator of this attack. Ajay Kumar says that Kamalveer is currently out of jail, while his associates Lalit Kaushik, Amit, Mohit, Prabhakar, Aniket and Pushpendra are already in jail in the murder case of Anuj. Everyone fears that if the testimony is complete, punishment is certain. This fear made the witness a target.
Further action is being taken by registering an FIR against the Malavars. It is also being seen whether this conspiracy has been hatched somewhere in the jail. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the investigation.
- Pradeep Malik, station in-charge, Chhajlat
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