A co-accused in the 2015 lynching of Muhammad Akhlaq was arrested by Noida Police after a shootout encounter late Sunday night. The accused, Hari Om, who was out on bail, was wanted for several robberies in Ghaziabad. "The accused was part of the conspiracy in the lynching of Akhlaq which occurred four years back in Bisada, Dadri. He had served jail time and was out on bail. While in jail, he was able to build a gang which would execute several robberies. We intercepted his movement last night and he was arrested," said Anil Kumar, SHO Jarcha Police Station. A resident of Bisada, Hari Om had seven cases pending against him, including the FIR filed in Jarcha Police Station in connection with Akhlaq's murder. HariOm was granted bail 22 months after Akhlaq's murder, by the Allahabad High Court. Police suspect that while out on bail, he would execute robberies that had been planned in custody. According to police, Hari Om planned and carried out several robberies in Masuri area of Ghaziabad and was currently absconding in four such cases. During night patrolling in Jarcha, Hariom was stopped by the police at around 3.30 am near Samana Canal. A country-made pistol was recovered from his possession. A case under section 307 (attempt to murder) and another FIR under Arms Act have been registered against the accused in Jarcha police station.
