The prime accused in the killing of Junaid Khan. PTIFaridabad: The prime accused in the killing of Junaid Khan on board a Mathura-bound train was working as a security guard in Delhi and has confessed to having stabbed the Muslim youth, a senior police official said on Sunday.
The accused, who was on the run since June 22, was arrested Saturday from Dhule district of Maharashtra.
The killing of 17-year-old Junaid had triggered a nationwide outrage.
The 30-year-old main accused, a resident of district Palwal in Haryana, worked as a private security guard in a firm in Delhi, superintendent of police (railways) Kamaldeep Goyal said.
On the claim of the victim's brothers that they were called "beef eaters" by the accused, Goyal said, "No such thing has come to the fore during questioning so far."
He said the accused, whose identity was being withheld pending completion of some legal procedure, had boarded the train from Shivaji bridge station in Delhi.
"During his questioning so far, the main accused has confessed to having stabbed Junaid and attacking his brothers," he claimed.
The weapon has not been recovered so far, he said, adding the accused told the police that the knife, with which he attacked Junaid, was in his possession.
The fight between the victim and his brothers and the accused in the train started at Okhla railway station in Delhi while the stabbing took place at a station Ballabgarh onwards, he said.
When asked about the facts that have emerged with the arrest of five accused earlier, Goyal said the probe is ongoing.
Goyal said it was difficult for them to crack the case as thousands of people travel from Delhi to Mathura daily on the local train.
When asked where the main accused was hiding, Goyal said, "He spent a few days at his home. He went to Mathura and Vrindavan and later through a relative he worked at some unit in Dhule for a few days."
Replying to a question, Goyal said the main fight had started between the victim and another man Rameshwar, who was earlier arrested in the case.
The SP said the main accused also jumped into the fight, though he did not know Rameshwar.
Junaid's mother, meanwhile, has demanded capital punishment for the main accused.
Junaid was stabbed to death while his brothers, Hashim and Sakir, were injured by a mob which also allegedly hurled communal slurs against them.
His brothers had claimed the attackers had taunted and repeatedly called them "anti-nationals" and "beef eaters."
A reward of Rs 2 lakh had also been announced for information on identity of those involved in the killing.
Junaid was stabbed to death when he, along with his brothers, was returning home to Khandawli village after shopping for Eid in Delhi.
His body was dumped close to Asaoti village in Faridabad district.
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