Meerut: History-Sheeter Varun Luhari Cremated After Family Protest, FIR Filed
The family of slain history-sheeter Varun Luhari cremated his body on Thursday after police registered an FIR naming two persons and 5-6 unidentified accused in connection with his murder. His nephew Pranav performed the last rites.
The cremation came after hours of protest by Luhari’s family members and members of the Jat community, who refused to conduct the last rites while demanding a murder case against the killers of Luhari and the release of his father Baburam. They accused the administration of failing to honour assurances given earlier.
Tuesday’s Baraut shootout left confectionery shop owner Sohanlal Agrawal, 56; his son Vikas, 24; and the alleged attacker Varun Luhari dead.
According to police, Luhari and his associates entered Sohanlal’s shop on Delhi Road and opened fire, killing the father-son duo on the spot. Following the attack, an irate mob chased and assaulted Luhari. His family alleged that while he was lying injured on the road, a man shot him twice at close range. Luhari was taken to Baraut Community Health Centre and later to Meerut, where he died early Wednesday.
Although the family brought his body from the Meerut mortuary on Wednesday after police verbally agreed to their demands, they refused cremation on Thursday, seeking formal action. “All evidence is available with police showing how Varun was shot dead in broad daylight. Instead of acting against those involved, police arrested his 80-year-old father while his killers were roaming free,” alleged Kulveer Rathi, a relative.
After negotiations, police registered a case against Deepak Kumar, his brother Rakesh Kumar and 5-6 unidentified persons under BNS sections of murder, rioting and provisions of Arms Act.
Meanwhile, another injured person, identified as Rohit Saini, 24, came forward claiming he was hit by a bullet in the foot while passing through the area during the shootout. He is currently at a Meerut medical college, and his family has requested police to include his case in the investigation.
Police said the violence was linked to a decade-old rivalry. On July 17, 2015, Varun and his brother Kapil allegedly opened fire at Sohanlal’s shop following a financial dispute. During that clash, Kapil was allegedly shot dead by members of the Agrawal family. Investigators suspect Tuesday’s killings were carried out as revenge for the old dispute.
According to police, Luhari was slapped with the Gangster Act in 2023 and his property seized, had shifted to Dehradun. He was in Baghpat for a court hearing on the day of the incident.
