
Ghaziabad: A notice warning of possible demolition action was pasted on the house of Asad — main accused in the murder of Class 11 student Surya Chauhan, and killed in a police encounter here — while his father and two others were arrested in connection with the case, officials said on Monday.
The notice, issued by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), was affixed to the main gate of Asad’s house in Navneet Vihar under the Khoda police station area by a tehsil administration team in the presence of the tehsildar and a heavy police force, an official said.
Authorities also made public announcements through loudspeakers and drum beating in the locality, stating that the land on which the house was built was allegedly illegally occupied.
According to the notice, the occupants have been asked to submit their response before the SDM within 15 days. The administration said that if the alleged encroachment is not removed within the stipulated period, demolition action may be initiated.
Authorities seal 3 madrassas
On Tuesday, June 2, district administration and police launched a three-day ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ in Khoda, involving verification of tenants, commercial establishments, unauthorised properties and suspected criminal elements.
District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar said three madrassas operating in the area were sealed after they were found to be functioning without recognition.
“During the verification drive, three madrassas were identified which were being run without registration with the Madrasa Board or the Minority Welfare Department,” Kumar told reporters.
He said joint teams of the police and the Minority Welfare Department carried out the sealing action.
The official further said that details of children studying in these institutions would be collected and arrangements would be made for their admission to nearby government or other recognised schools.
The operation is being carried out jointly by police, officials from the Basic Education Department and the Minority Welfare Department, Kumar said.
Govt job for Surya’s mother
Authorities handed over a government job appointment letter to Surya’s family as part of the assistance announced by the Uttar Pradesh government. His mother has been offered a contractual post of sanitation supervisor in the sanitation department of the Khoda municipality.
A tense calm prevailed in the locality, with many shops shut, including establishments run by members of both communities. Security personnel remained stationed across sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
A resident, Azad Saifi, who runs an internet service business in Khoda, told PTI over the phone that the actions of one person had brought disrepute to the entire community.
“I did not know Asad or his family personally. A lot depends on how children are brought up. Parents should pay attention to their upbringing,” he said.
Saifi said some shops remained closed, but added that the administration’s handling of the situation had generally been appropriate in view of the incident.
Surya-Asad case
The action comes a day after Asad, the prime accused in the murder case, was killed in a police encounter.
Police have arrested three accused, including Asad’s father, Nawab, in connection with the killing.
According to police, Nawab, Farhan and Atif were arrested on May 30 near Chaudhary Charan Singh Gate in Khoda area, while efforts are on to trace other accused, including Sarik Mewati.
During interrogation, Farhan allegedly told investigators that a quarrel broke out between Asad and Surya on May 28 over riding a motorcycle.
Subsequently, Asad informed his father and associates about the altercation, following which they allegedly conspired to “teach Surya a lesson”, a police official said.
He said the accused surrounded Surya in Gali No 4 of Navneet Vihar on the afternoon of May 28. During the attack, Farhan allegedly handed a knife to Asad, while Nawab allegedly instigated him to kill the teenager.
Asad then allegedly stabbed Surya in the abdomen, and the accused fled the scene, police said.
Surya was admitted to a private hospital in Noida, where he succumbed to injuries on May 30.
Reacting to Sunday’s encounter in which Asad was killed, Surya’s mother told reporters that it was “a significant step towards justice” for her son.
She said she wanted to see Asad’s photograph to be convinced that the person responsible for her son’s murder had been punished.
“He was my only child; the only support of our family. Everything has been taken away from me. Knowing that his killer has met his fate gives me some consolation that justice has been delivered,” she said.
Surya, a resident of Navneet Vihar Colony in Khoda, was stabbed on May 28 following an altercation. Based on a complaint by his family, police registered a murder case against multiple accused.
The main accused, Asad, who had been carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest, was killed in a police encounter in the Khoda area early Sunday.