Two more persons were arrested by the Gurugram Police on Wednesday in connection with a case wherein the members of a Hindu outfit allegedly issued threats to meat shop owners this past week to close their establishments on the occasion of Navratri. Four persons have been arrested so far in the case, the police said.
The two persons, arrested by Udyog Vihar Police, have been identified as Rakesh and Mohit. Both are residents of Sirhaul village in Gurugram, the police said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Udyog Vihar) Birem Singh Poswal said that Rakesh had criminal antecedents and was earlier involved in 19 cases, including murder, attempt to murder, robbery and theft.
βThe most of these cases were registered against Rakesh in 2008-2009. He is on bail in most of the cases,β said Mr. Poswal. Mohit, on the other hand, has no previous criminal record, the officer said.
Rakesh was produced before the court during the day and sent to the judicial custody. Mohit will be produced before the court on Thursday.
Around two dozen people, armed with sticks and swords, had forced meat shop owners in Dundahera area along the Delhi-Gurugram border to shut their shops this past Saturday, the first day of the nine-day Navratri festival.
A case was registered on charges of rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code and various sections under the Arms Act at Udhyog Vihar police station in this connection the following day.
Two persons β Rajesh and Pramod β were also arrested. Both are residents of Dundahera.
Sanyukt Hindu Sangarsh Samiti, a conglomeration of several Hindu outfits in the city, has already distanced itself from the incident.
The Hindu outfits, twice every year, have been demanding the closure of the meat shops in the city, mostly run by the Muslims, during Navratri over the past couple of years.
On a few occasions, the activists have also been accused of using force.