DHEERAJ VISHKARMA.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Family witness, Kripal Singh murder case

Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

“Dheeraj Vishkarma is the son of witness Ramshankar Vishkarma who was kidnapped at age 16 in June 2018 to pressure his father in the Kripal Singh murder trial. Dheeraj managed to escape his captors in Meerut and returned home safely.”

Dheeraj Vishkarma is the son of Ramshankar Vishkarma, a key witness in the Kripal Singh murder trial in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Raised in a working-class neighborhood, Dheeraj's life was disrupted by the legal battles surrounding his father's neighbor, Kripal Singh. On June 11, 2018, while standing outside his house, Dheeraj was forcibly bundled into a vehicle by unidentified men, initiating a major kidnapping investigation.

The abductors transported Dheeraj to the city of Meerut, keeping him confined while attempting to contact his father to demand the withdrawal of his court testimony. According to Dheeraj's statement to the police, he was kept tied up but managed to loosen his bonds while his guards were asleep. He escaped from the confinement facility, reached a local police station, and was subsequently reunited with his family in Shahjahanpur.

His kidnapping and escape highlighted the ongoing security vulnerabilities faced by the children and relatives of witnesses in the Asaram Bapu trials. The incident led to public demands for stricter witness protection laws, with media outlets pointing out that even after Asaram's conviction, his local follower networks remained active and dangerous. The Uttar Pradesh police registered an FIR against several unidentified followers for kidnapping and criminal intimidation.

Dheeraj returned to his studies in Shahjahanpur, with the family receiving temporary police protection. His experience remains a significant detail in the narrative of the Kripal Singh murder investigation, illustrating the physical risks that extended to the family members of those who chose to cooperate with the criminal justice system. He has since maintained a low profile to avoid further targeting.