Dhirendra Singh’s statement came after an MLA BJP defended him, saying he fired in self-defense.
Lucknow:
Dhirendra Singh, who is accused of shooting a man to death, while in the presence of police and district officials, during an argument in a Ballia village in Uttar Pradesh, filed a “surrender request” in a local court. Such a request allows a defendant to surrender directly to the court in question, which will then decide whether to send him to police or judicial custody.
So far, the police have arrested two people in connection with the violence, including Dhirendra Singh’s brother, and detained five others.
Dhirendra Singh and five others are at large. UP’s Azamgarh Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his capture. The original reward, announced by the Police Superintendent of Balia (SP), was 25,000 rupees.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Surendra Singh, who is said to be close to Dhirendra Singh, gave the police one week to file a cross FIR, which will include the defendant’s version of events. Surendra Singh has also threatened the police with an agitation if it is not done.
On Friday night, Dhirendra Singh appeared in a video message refuting the charges against him and blaming the administration for the violence.
“I don’t know who shot. I was pleading with the officials to save my family. They just stood there and watched … I am a soldier. I have always believed in serving my country. I urge the prime minister for a probe fair.” he said in the video.
His statement came hours after Surendra Singh defended him, saying he fired in self-defense.
According to witnesses, a fight broke out between the defendant and Jai Prakash, the 46-year-old man who was killed. Dhirendra Singh, former chairman of the local BJP ex-military unit, reportedly shot Jai Prakash three times, causing chaos at a meeting to discuss the allocation of ration shops.
In her video message, Dhirendra Singh claimed that, far from instigating the violence, she had warned the authorities that it might break out and alleged that officials were involved in it.
“He had warned them before that there was going to be violence. But they went ahead. Officials were involved in the violence yesterday. They took money,” he alleged, also blaming local officials and the police for ignoring his request to deploy enough security to the meeting.
Dhirendra Singh also claimed that her family had been the target of the violence that followed.
Subdivisional Magistrate Suresh Chandra Pal and UP Police Circle Officer Chandrakesh Singh were suspended on instructions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shortly after Thursday’s incident.
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