The Hindu : Tension in Patna after 'murder' of youths by police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2002

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Tension in Patna after 'murder' of youths by police

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA Dec. 30. Tension prevails in the Ashiana Colony here following the death of three youths in firing by policemen of the Shastrinagar station on Saturday.

While the State Government has ordered a CID inquiry and dismissed all policemen attached to the Shastrinagar station, including the officer-in-charge, Shamsi Alam, some local outfits have given a call for `Patna bandh' tomorrow. A first information report has also been lodged against the police personnel.

Upset by the "cold-blooded murder", allegedly at the behest of a telephone booth owner, residents of Ashiana Colony attacked police vehicles and resorted to arson. They alleged that the Shastrinagar police had carried out the "killings" after the telephone booth owner, who was related to a police official posted in another station, complained against the youths.

The residents claimed that the youths had only demanded a refund of the excess amount of Rs. 2 charged by the booth owner after protesting against the inflated bill. The booth owner complained to the police, who opened fire at the youths.

The police, on the other hand, claimed the youths were "dacoits and criminals wanted in several crimes" and even came up with a list of crimes they were wanted in.

The father of one of the deceased had met the SSP and officials at the Shastrinagar police station earlier on Saturday for a character certificate for his son, who had been offered a position as a commissioned officer by the Navy.

Another youth was awaiting employment with the State Government on compassionate grounds following the death of his father, who was an engineer in a Government department.

Cong. condemns

PTI reports:

The Congress, a partner in the Rabri Devi-led coalition ministry, has demanded stern action against those guilty. If the Government was convinced that the youths were "innocents", then it should pay compensation of Rs. 10 lakh and allot a Government job to a person from the victims' families, the BPCC president, Shakeel Ahmed, who is also a Minister in the State Cabinet, said.

He expressed concern over "innocents" being killed in fake encounters and said he would raise the matter at the next meeting of the coordination committee.

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Tension in Patna after 'murder' of youths by police