The family members and relatives of Praveen Kumar—a policeman who was allegedly shot dead in Baghpat district on Thursday—staged a protest after receiving his body.
Police officials, however, claim that the deceased cop committed suicide.
Kumar was a native of Tarara village in Hasanpur Tehsil of Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place at the Doghat police outpost in Baghpat district. Constable Kumar, who was stationed there, died after being shot under suspicious circumstances. The revolver from which the bullet was fired belongs to Tikri outpost in-charge Bhagwat Prasad, said reports. After getting information about the incident, Baghpat SP reached the spot. The police are investigating the matter.
The family members and relatives of Kumar on Friday carried his body to the Delhi-Lucknow National Highway, staged a protest, jamming the area near Kankather. As the police personnel resorted to lathi-charge, villagers cried foul and accused the senior police officers of “killing a Dalit man”.
Kumar’s father, Rajendra, alleged while speaking to NewsClick, “The outpost in-charge, a cook and a soldier are involved in this murder. So far, no officer has come to meet me at my home. A fair inquiry should be conducted, but the senior police officers are blaming my son, saying that he shot himself. This is not true. He had called us a few days back and had said that he was fine.”
Kumar, who had joined Uttar Pradesh Police in 2016, is survived by four siblings and parents. His parents are farmers based in Amroha.
“Praveen was deployed at Doghat police station in Bagpath and he committed suicide there. Soon after Praveen's body was received by his family members, they demanded compensation and government jobs for themselves. The case will be investigated,” Pratap Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), was quoted as saying by ANI.
The case is being probed from various angles to ascertain the motive behind the incident, the officer said, adding that Praveen Kumar's colleagues will be interrogated.
Commenting on this incident, Vibhuti Narain Rai, a retired IPS officer told NewsClick, “Constables and head constables don't carry a revolver or pistol; they carry a rifle. If constable is posted somewhere as a personal security officer (PSO), then he would be given a rifle. However, when I was in service and even now, revolvers are not given to the police constables.”
