Special cell begins probe

“The process to attach other staff to help the IOs in the investigation is also on. Two S-Is,each having expertise in investigation,have been selected from 16 ranges across the state,” he added.

Kumar further said that the cell will report the development of the investigation to the Saharanpur Range DIG. “The police stations,where the 66 cases are registered,have started handing over the documents and details of evidence collected so far to the cell,” he said.

“The decision to set up the cell was taken to make the process of investigation speedy and arrest the culprits. Another reason was that the victims usually complained about biased investigation by IOs of the local police stations,” Kumar said.

He added that the families,which were attacked in the villages and their houses torched,can identify the perpetrators,as the latter were either from the same village or adjoining areas.

“The IOs will visit each of these victims and collect the names of the suspects involved in arson and murders. They will further verify the role of these suspects and their location where such incidents had taken place,” the ADG said.

Kumar said that it will take some time to identify the culprits involved in the attack on tractor-trolleys carrying people who were returning from the mahapanchayat on September 7. “These people were attacked near Jolly Gangnahar. Since the victims belong to other districts and villages,they could not identify the assailants,” said Kumar.

Meerut Zone IG Brij Bhushan said that majority of the S-Is from the 16 ranges have joined the cell and have been handed over cases. Fifteen inspectors in the cell have been relieved from districts under Meerut zone.

Maintaining that he has requested the DGP (Headquarters) to attach some DSPs too to the cell,Bhushan said: “The Muzaffarnagar SP (Crime) has already been assigned to supervise the investigation to be conducted by the inspectors and the S-Is. The Muzaffarnagar SSP too will keep a watch on the functioning of the cell.”