The Hisar police on Sunday arrested the main accused in the murder of dairy operator Jeevan Kundu from Gujarat, 19 days after the killing that had triggered protests by Khap panchayats and farmers’ organisations, leading to a two-week standoff over the victim’s cremation.
Before Atri’s arrest, Hisar police had arrested nine accused in the case, including Bhanu Kumar, Gajender alias Gajju Pandit, and Sahil. Ramesh remained the principal accused and had been on the run since the incident. Siddhant Jain, Hisar superintendent of police (SP) told HT that Ramesh Sharma, who had been absconding since the August 4 murder, was arrested from Junagadh in Gujarat along with two associates after tireless efforts by the joint team of the CIA Mill Gate and personnel from the HTM police station. A reward of ₹ 50,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest.
The SP said they are being brought to Hisar.
His death sparked widespread anger in the area. Kundu, a dairy operator, was allegedly surrounded and beaten to death with sticks and other weapons by 10-12 neighbours on August 4 following a dispute over dumping cow dung.
On August 15, hundreds of protesters attempted to reach the venue of the CM’s district-level flag-hoisting programme at Nehru College in Hansi to protest the alleged delay in Atri’s arrest. The case had also led to a major confrontation on Independence Day.
