Kasganj violence: NSA invoked against three brothers and main accused of Chandan Gupta murder

AGRA: Eight months after 19-year-old Chandan Gupta alias Abhishek was allegedly shot dead in

Kasganj

clash on January 26 morning, NSA was invoked against three brothers and prime accused Saleem Javed, Wasim Javed and Naseem Javed.

Speaking to TOI, district magistrate of Kasganj, R P Singh said, “NSA advisory boarded recommended to levy NSA against the three accused for next three months, which will further be extended for a year or so.”

He said, “For safety and security reasons, releasing them would not had been an appropriate step, as even after so many months passed, tension still prevails in the district. On almost every occasion, both communities attempted to take out ‘Tiranga Yatra’ and tableau in city streets. Some groups even tried to use Chandan Gupta posters in rally. We have concerns that on the pretext of such rally and yatra, anti-social elements could again trigger violence in the district.”

Interestingly, the district magistrate also added, that, “Police investigation reports have found that accused have fired shot in self-defense after seeing the violent mob heading towards them. In the statement, Saleem Javed accepted of shooting Chandan Gupta who was part of the mob. The police later recovered cartridges and country-made .315 caliber pistol used in Chandan’s murder from the accused home.”

It is important to note that a .315 caliber countrymade pistol has a kill radius of less than 20 metres and fires pellets instead of bullets. However, according to eyewitness accounts, Chandan was killed near the

tehsil

office gate in Kasganj, which is nearly 60 meters from Saleem’s house.

TOI had earlier reported about shots been fired on the Tehsil road near Saleem’s home and that pistols along with clubs and sticks had been carried by youths who participated in the Tiranga Yatra on January 26. In CCTV footage of the incident, three shots are fired and police claimed that one of the bullets hit Chandan.

In another video footage, prior been shot, deceased Chandan Gupta was found carrying Vishal Thakur on his motor-bike, who had called ‘Tiranga Yatra’ and was allegedly involved in Kasganj violence.

Sultan

Hassan, a friend of Saleem’s family said, “Out of three accused brothers, Wasim Javed, district executive secretary of UP Industrial Representative Committee was out on a religious tour for over 40 days, he was not even in the district at the time of the incident. The entire case against the three brother is fake.”

It’s important to note, that Saleem’s family had been running a garment store in front of Kasganj city police station for the last 40 years.