Muzaffarnagar riots: Accused in Kutba killings arrested

One person has been arrested in connection with communal killings at Kutba village during the Muzaffarnagar riots last year, police said on Tuesday.

Dhiraj Kumar was arrested last evening at Kutba village under Shahpur police station in the district, they said, adding, he was remanded to 14 days judicial custody. Eight persons, including a woman were killed and 20 others injured during riots in Kutba.

Police had registered cases against 110 rioters and arrested two persons in this connection. On December 2, several riot victims, including women, had staged a dharna and raised slogans in Shahpur town over delay in the arrest of those accused in Kutba killings.

According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was set up to probe the riots, more than 50 people were allegedly involved. A local court has already initiated attachment proceedings against the accused persons who are absconding.

The communal clashes which took place in the district last September had claimed more than 60 lives and rendered thousands of people homeless.