Jitendra Yadav, resident of Noida, was shot at, allegedly by a police inspector
A group of men, on way home from a family function, were stopped and shot at by policemen near Delhi. Two of the men were injured, the condition of one is critical. After a preliminary inquiry, the police suspended four of its staff members and placed a sub-inspector under arrest. The police, however, denied the family's claims of a fake encounter, saying it was a case of personal enmity.
The family had hinted that the attack was caste related. Vajeshni Yadav, a relative of Jitendra Yadav, who is fighting for his life in hospital, said the police have taken to targeting young men in the area, staging fake encounters to get promotions. "These are all farmers, not criminals. The police must be taught lessons in law," he said.
Describing the attack, which took place late on Saturday evening, Vajeshni Yadav told reporters that they were on way home from an engagement ceremony in Berhampur, in nearby Ghaziabad. Jitendra Yadav, who owns a gym and a shoe store, was dropping them home.
"My elder brother, uncle and two friends were in the car," said Vajeshni Yadav. Around 10.30 pm, when they had reached Noida's Sector 122, four policemen came in a jeep and stopped them. They then "started hitting and abusing Jitender Yadav," he said.
"When Jitendra asked what was their fault, the police said, 'You are a Yadav right'? Jitendra asked 'Is it a crime to be a Yadav'? The cop said, 'let me teach you...'."
Luv Kumar, a senior police officer, said Jitendra Yadav was shot in the neck. He is admitted in Noida's Fortis Hospital and is said to be critical. Another man, Sunil, has been hurt on his leg.
"Prima facie, it looks like case of personal enmity. During the probe it was found that the trainee sub-inspector knew the elder brother of the man who was shot," said Mr Kumar. The gun belt of the arrested inspector, Vijay Darshan, has been seized and sent for forensic test, he added.
Vajeshni Yadav said the policeman came to Jitendra's shoe store few days ago. But he refused to pay, which led to an altercation.