Annoyed with the arrest of a 21-year-old in connection with the murder of a local businessman's family here, politicians and social activists took to the streets on Saturday. Several of them, led by former Minister and Congress leader Satish Sharma sat on an indefinite dharna at the clock tower in the main market. Party leaders Satish Tyagi and Narendra Rathi were also present. They demanded a CBI investigation.
Sharma also said they would oppose Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Ghaziabad. Yadav is supposed to come to the city to distribute laptops.
Sharma alleged that the police had nabbed an innocent youth in haste before the proposed visit of the Chief Minister, only as a face-save. "They wanted to wrap up the matter, hence they trapped an innocent boy," said Sharma, adding that this was how the police protected the real culprits.
"The way the police has been working, it seems it is trying to shield some hidden force by implicating a former driver of the family, who is a student of animation. If the Chief Minister comes to Ghaziabad without recommending CBI probe, his visit would be opposed. A doctor has also been kidnapped. The law and order situation is really pathetic. The CM postponed his visit because of the spurt in crime," said a social activist.
In the meantime, traders' leader Ashok Chawla, the general secretary of Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal, demanded CBI investigation. BJP leaders Atul Garg, BJP City president Ashok Monga, Congress leader and former MP Surendra Prakash Goel and Ghaziabad MlA Suresh Bansal had already sought a CBI probe.