Muzaffarnagar riots: Three absconding accused arrested, one surrenders

, April 22: Three absconding

have been

while another surrendered in a court in connection with different Muzaffaranagar riot-related cases, police said on Tuesday.

While Devendra, Satbir and Bhura were arrested in the district here yesterday, accused Bhayya surrendered in a local court, SP H N Singh told reporters.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing into the communal riots last year has approached the court and sought attachment proceedings against 20 absconding accused in five gangrape cases, SIT officials said.

Police has registered six cases against 27 people separately and in five cases SIT has found 22 people involved, they said, adding two have been arrested while 20 are still absconding, they added.

Meanwhile Inspector General, Meerut, Alok Sharma called on a meeting of SIT officials here yesterday and directed them to expedite investigation in all riot-related cases following orders of the apex court.

Sharma said that riot accused will be arrested at every cost and that he has directed officials to complete investigation in all cases.

Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts including Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh had witnessed communal riots in September last year that left over 60 people dead and thousands of people displaced.

PTI