Bijnor: Six held, their families look for answers

At Singh’s house, the only person besides the couple was their 35-year-old physically challenged daughter, who was washing the utensils when The Sunday Express visited the household. “All six were arrested from my house,” Singh said. “At around 1 pm (Friday), some Muslim men, along with the police, had started gathering around the house. My brother and nephews were all here when two policemen asked us to open the main gate.”

Singh said he told the police to first disperse the crowd before the family would open the door. He was clueless about the “sudden chaos” around his house before the police told him that his sons and other family members, along with a few others from the area, were allegedly involved in the killing of three people. “I am not aware what had happened, but my children were at home (at the time). If at all they had done something wrong, they would have fled,” he reasoned.

On Saturday afternoon, Singh was also not aware that his sons had been arrested. “Parcha kat gaya hai kya (has the FIR been registered),” he asked. “I don’t even know anyone who can guide me in handling court cases,” he added. Talking about the family, Singh said he owned 12 bighas, and the family depended on farming. “Situ worked in a medical shop and he contributed to the family income. My elder son (Satish) worked with me in the fields.”

His wife, Phool Kali, added, “It is a long struggle now.”

At the home of Singh’s brother Rajpal, his wife Vindo Devi, said, “My son runs a cycle repair shop…I don’t believe he was in any way involved in this. I have nobody at home now,” she said.