Much to the relief of Meerut and Muzaffarnagar police, Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Budhana Assembly seat Mohamed Arif (38), who went missing last Tuesday, was traced down in Panipat (Haryana) late on Friday night.
After primarily investigation, the police said that Arif was not kidnapped but some domestic reason led to the incident. However, investigations are on and the police are waiting to quiz Arif on t his count before coming to a conclusion.
“The BSP leader was not kidnapped which has been clear in the probe made so far. But to extract the exact reason for his disappearance, we have to quiz him thoroughly,” said Station Officer of Kankerkhera police station, where a case of kidnapping was registered by the family members.
The cop said that it seems that Arif’s family did not wanthim to contest the elections and they suspect that it could one of the reasons which might have driven him to suddenly disappear. He however claimed that they were yet to quiz Arif on this count which would make things clear.
last Tuesday evening, Mohamed Arif (38) of Budhana (Muzaffarnagar) was returniung to his native place from Delhi and also caled up his wife to inform that he was on his way back. When he did not reach home till late that night and his cell phone was found to be switched off, the concerned family members contacted the local police apprehending kidnapping.
On Wednesday morning, Arif’s Scorpio MUV was found abandoned on Delhi-Muzaffarnagar highway in Kankerkhera police station area of Meerut. This led to about 200 supporters staging a blockade on Karnal-Meerut highway at Ghari Sakhwat village of Budhana. later senior officers intervened and pacified the protesters to clear the road.
A businessman by occupation, Arif was declared BSP candidate from Budhana Assembly seat for the the 2017 polls. He was fielded after cancellation of ticket to Naeem Malik and hence Arif’s family suspected the role of Malik behind the incident.