Noida: Gautam Buddh Nagar police on Sunday arrested two persons for allegedly thrashing and attempting to murder a retired army colonel in a park in Sector 29 of Noida few days ago. Police said that an additional district magistrate (ADM), his wife and son are also among those booked in the case.
According to police, the arrested persons were identified ADM's gunner Rahul Nagar (28) and his household help Jitendra Awasthi (26).
"Acting on a tip-off, the two accused were arrested after conducting raid at a suspected location near Shaheed Smarak in sector 29 Noida. We had taken all the necessary permissions before arresting official government-appointed gunner of the ADM," said Manoj Pant, station house officer sector 20, Noida.
The accused have been arrested under sections 307( attempt to murder), 504(Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506(Punishment for criminal intimidation), 120 B(Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 147(Punishment for rioting) and 448(Punishment for house-trespass) of the Indian penal code.
"The ADM, his wife and other accused are absconding at the moment. However, we have formed teams to nab them," said Pant.
On August 14, a 76-year-old retired Colonel, Virendra Pratap Singh Chauhan, was arrested on charges of molestation levelled by the ADM's wife on the day following a spat between the two sides over alleged illegal construction by the ADM's family.
The colonel, on Saturday, wrote a letter to District Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar, B N Singh from the jail and pleaded that the case against him is false and requested the magistrate to look into the footage of the closed-circuit television camera installed in the park.
Upon looking into the CCTV footage it was found that Chauhan was being assaulted by the seven. The magistrate then instructed the police to file an FIR against the ADM and others involved in the matter.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ajay Pal Sharma said, "We have booked seven persons including the ADM for attempt to murder and other relevant sections of assault. One person (a household help) has been arrested and we are currently interrogating him."
The SSP also ordered immediate suspension of a sub-inspector of Sector 29 police post, holding him responsible for misbehaviour by policemen and lax in probe. However, the residents demanded suspension of the station house officer of sector 20 police station and circle officer in connection with the matter