Allahabad HC orders CBI probe into Mathura Jawaharbagh violence

Allahabad: In a jolt to Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Probe into the infamous Jawaharbagh violence case in Mathura district which had taken place on June 2, 2016.

A division bench comprised of Chief Justice DB Bhosle ad Justice Yashwant Verma passed the orderon the main petition of one Vijay Pal Singh Tomar.

It could be mentioned that the petition for the CBI probe was also submitted to the Supreme Court earlier in June 2016, but was rejected by the same.The hearing regarding the case was completed on February 20 last but the verdict was reserved by the Allahabad HC.

It could be recalled that the violence that had erupted in the Jawaharbagh area of Mathura district had killed many including the Mathura Police Superintendent Mukul Dwivedi.

In its order, the court has given CBI two-month time to wrap up the probe and asked the investigation agency to set up a special team for the purpose.

The Case:

• On 2 June 2016, 2 policemen and 22 squatters were killed in an armed conflict at Jawahar Bagh public park in Mathura city of Uttar Pradesh.
• An armed group led by a Ram Vriksh Yadav, once a follower of Jai Gurudev, had been occupying the site since 2014
• Yadav, originally from Ghazipur, was running a parallel government, complete with administration, revenue and armed forces, within the park.
• It is alleged that Ram Vriksh Yadav was close to some of the ruling party politicians including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav, and thus were unwilling to act against.
• After a court had ordered the eviction of Yadav and his followers from the area in 2016, the police tried to forcibly evict them which led to the panic and led to mob violence.
• As a result, the squatters responded violently, killing two senior police officers, including the superintendent of police.