Cops granted a day’s remand of Bittu Bajrangi, to look for swords | Gurgaon News – Times of India
Sources told TOI Bittu, arrested on Tuesday, admitted during interrogation that he and his supporters were detained by cops during the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh but managed to escape the police vehicle after taking back the swords and tridents that had been confiscated from them.
“Some of the swords have been hidden in the Aravali hills of Pali in Faridabad and some others are scattered across Ballabgarh and Palwal. Bittu was produced before judicial magistrate (first class) Amit Verma and sent to one-day police remand. He will be taken to court on completion of his custody period,” a senior police officer said.
The 45-year-old, who was earlier this month booked for a provocative video posted an hour before violence erupted in Nuh, has claimed on social media to run a ‘Bajrang Force’ that works for cow protection. He also said he was a member of Bajrang Dal.
On Wednesday, the parent outfit of Bajrang Dal and the organiser of the yatra, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, distanced itself from Bittu.
“Bittu Bajrangi is not a member of Bajrang Dal. He is not associated with Bajrang Dal in any form. We condemn his social media posts and we do not approve the content of his videos,” said VHP’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
Bittu’s arrest on Tuesday was based on an FIR registered in Nuh on the complaint of ASP Usha Kundu. The ASP alleged that her team deployed around 300 metres from the Nalhar temple in Nuh on July 31 intercepted Bittu and around 15-20 men who were carrying swords and trishuls (tridents). The group was detained as they became “aggressive” and got into a scuffle with cops.
Later, they managed to escape from the police vehicle with their stash of weapons that had been seized by the cops, the FIR said.
The accused were booked under sections 148 (rioting, being armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 353 (assault, criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 397 (dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation), among other charges of the IPC. Provisions of the Arms Act were also imposed.
Before this, Bittu was arrested by Faridabad police on August 2 for posting a Facebook video in which he said “tumhara jija aa raha hai (your brother-in-law is coming” an hour before he reached Nuh to attend the religious procession on July 31. The post, made in an already charged atmosphere ahead of the yatra, was widely circulated and triggered a flurry of retaliatory posts. It also added to speculation that controversial cow vigilante Monu Manesar would attend the procession.
Bittu was also booked in another 4 cases at different police stations in Faridabad last month for allegedly making controversial statements and social media posts targeting a community. He was granted bail in all the cases.
