Jawahar Bagh case: Commission records statements of 127 persons

Mathura, Jul 28: The judicial commission inquiring into the Jawahar Bagh incident here has recorded statements of 127 persons here, authorities said.

"So far statements of 127 persons have been recorded and 30 to 40 persons are likely to submit their statements next week," Pramod Kumar Goel, Secretary to the commission, said.

Statements of about 20 officers, who were involved in the case since the day cult leader Ram Vriksha Yadav and hundred of his supporters occupied the land at Jawahar Bagh till the clashes on June 2, are yet to be recorded.

"Police and administrative officers associated with the episode from day one when Ram Vriksha occupied Jawahar Bagh till June 2 when it was vacated would be required to record their statements," he said.

"If somebody wants to record his/her statement on oath, the opportunity would be provided," Goel said.

On being asked if the commission's term, which expires on August 7, would be extended, he said, "We cannot say anything on it. It's upto the government to decide about the extension of the term."

The notification to probe the clash at Jawahar Bagh was issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 7 and the tenure of the single-member commission, headed by Justice (Retd) Mirza Imtiaz Murtaza, was for two months.

The commission would also recommend steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Twentynine persons, including SP city Mukul Dwivedi and SHO Santosh Yadav, were killed in the operation on June 2 to evict the encroachers.

Yesterday, ADM administration Ajai Kumar Awasthi presented a cheque of Rs 24 lakh to Mithilesh Yadav, the wife of the slain SHO Santosh Yadav. Earlier, District Magistrate Nikhil Chandra Shukla and SSP Babloo Kumar had presented a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to Archana Dwivedi, the wife of the slain SP.

"As a mark of respect and a token help to the bereaved families, district level officers and government employees of Mathura had decided to contribute from their salaries," the district magistrate said.

PTI