37 murder accused acquitted

Pratapgarh, Mar 28 (UNI) A fast track court has acquitted 37 people accused of murder and arson in Kunda area here on July 6, 1995.

Fast Track Court (II) Judge Ram Aadhar passed the order yesterday acquitting all the 37 accused who are alleged to be close to Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya.

A large number of armed assailants had allegedly attacked the Dilerganj village of Kunda and set afire 18 houses. Four girls had died and several others were wounded in the incident.

Later, Badruddin lodged an FIR at Kunda police station claiming the incident was a fallout of a girl's rape and kidnap of former gram pradhan Chhedilal.

He also alleged that villagers were assaulted and four girls strangled and their bodies disposed off in Ganga. But later on the complainant and nine witnesses had turned hostile.

UNI XC-VS OM HT1925