Police in Uttar Pradesh say that they have arrested at least seven people including a Hindu priest and a village head for allegedly hatching a fake attack on a priest in a bid to frame rivals in Gonda district. Speaking to reporters, District Magistrate Nitin Bansal and Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Pandey said that the main accused was a priest, identified as Atul Tripathi alias Samrat Das, who suffered injuries in the attack last week and was being treated at Lucknow’s King George’s Medical College Hospital.
“They had filed a false FIR to frame others since they were engaged in a land dispute and also wanted to take advantage in the elections for the village head. The weapons were supplied by the two sons, Neeraj and Suraj, of the village head. One Munna had fired at the priest. The entire attack was hatched through a conspiracy and the police have been able to expose them,” the cop said.
श्रीराम जानकी मंदिर तिर्रेमनोरमा घटनाकाण्ड का मास्टरमांइड सहित 07 अभियुक्त गिरफ्तार, 03 अदद अवैध तमंचा मय कारतूस व 05 अदद मोबाइल बरामदगी के संबंध में पुलिस अधीक्षक गोंडा की बाइट।@Uppolice @AdgGkr @digdevipatan @dmgonda2 @News18UP @bstvlive pic.twitter.com/jcOFDx9VpE
— Gonda Police (@gondapolice) October 17, 2020
The state government had faced considerable criticism over the incident. Seven people have been arrested, while the police are set to arrest the injured priest too. One more person is said to be absconding.
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