UP: Members of Adityanath's Hindu Yuva Vahini held for lynching
What's the story
Three members of Hindu Yuva Vahini, formed and led by UP Chief Yogi Adityanath, were arrested for beating to death 60-year-old Ghulam Ahmed in Bulandshahr for "helping" an inter-faith couple elope.
Leaders of the organization, who have been repeatedly denying their involvement, also confirmed that the men were "very much party activists".
This came after their photos appeared on banners posing with other leaders.
Details
60-year-old beaten to death with lathis and rods
On May 2, Gavinder Singh reached Sohi village with a group of five-six youths to find a man who had reportedly helped an inter-faith couple, police said.
When they located Ghulam Ahmed, "they with one mind beat the 60-year-old to death with lathis and rods".
Evidence pointed to involvement of Singh and others, police said. Singh and four others have been booked.
Information
Hindu Yuva Vahini members allegedly harassed villagers daily
Locals claimed that members of the Yuva Vahini, accompanied by Gavinder, used to visit Sohi daily after the couple went on the run, and threatened them. Sometimes there were 5-6, and sometimes 30-35. One alleged they only used to come when the men were out.
Vahini
They are members, but have been framed: Vahini
After the arrest of Pulkit Sharma, Lalit Singh and Honey Raghav, Vahini leaders kept denying their association with the group.
Then banners surfaced where Raghav is identified as the "city president" of the group; leaders then accepted they are members of the group.
However, they maintained they had been framed.