Cop killing in Ghazipur: The protesters, the police said, belonged to the Nishad community
Highlights
- Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the murder
- The First Information Report in the murder case names 32 persons
- Constable Suresh Vats was killed after being hit by a stone
Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a police constable yesterday by a stone-throwing mob in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Two others have been detained for questioning and the First Information Report in the murder case names 32 persons, the police said.
Constable Suresh Vats, was on duty for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Ghazipur and was on his way back when he was attacked by a mob of protesters. He died on the spot, one of the policemen present at the time, said.
Pointing out that in view of the Prime Minister's rally in Ghazipur, any intelligence agency would have known about the protests, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said: "The incident has happened because of what the Chief Minister keeps on saying -- 'thok do' (shoot them)... The truth is that whichever officer finds out he is going to be transferred, he carries out an encounter and ensures a continuation of postings".
State minister Ashutosh Tandon said the government has given orders for investigation in the incident. "Since this government under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath has come to power, law and order is in full control. There is zero tolerance for the guilty," he said.
The protesters, the police said, belonged to the Nishad Party, which is demanding a bigger quota in jobs and education. Eight persons have been arrested for rioting and loss of public property.
Party chief Sanjay Kumar Nishad, however, has denied any involvement of their workers. The Nishads, a community living largely in eastern Uttar Pradesh, have been given the status of Other Backward Castes.
Surest Vats was the second police officer in the state killed by protesters. On December 3, inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was shot dead in Bulandshahr after a mob went berserk after carcasses of several cows were found in the outskirts of a village.Before shooting him, the attackers had had used stones, sticks and even an axe on him.
But investigation in the case taken time. The police arrested the man, who they claim pulled the trigger, just two days ago. The man, Prashant Natt, used to drive a cab in Delhi, the police said.
Today, the son of Mr Vats questioned what could be expected of the police if they are "unable to protect their own".