Delhi police defends version of Meerut cop's death
19 May 2012 1:26 PM IST
While the Delhi police attributed the reason behind the murder of the head constable Sanjeev Kumar as road rage, Millennium Post on Thursday pointed out a few glaring loopholes in Delhi police's version after a conversation with Jawahar Lal Tripathi, IG, Meerut. On Friday, Delhi police organised a press meet to answer the questions raised.
According to Vivek Gogia, Joint Commissioner of Police, a 'line-up' investigation is on and three teams of Delhi police, along with Uttar Pradesh Police had visited the spot to gather intelligence. 'Statements of Sachin, the other constable who was shot on his knee, have been recorded. According to his statements, it was revealed that en route their secret mission to trace a gang of auto thieves in Meerut, they were way laided by a Santro near Gang Nahar. This had apparently resulted in an argument following which, the Santro gang opened gunfires,' said Gogia. Based on this, added Gogia, it appears to be an incident of chance skirmish.
A thorough professional investigation by Uttar Pradesh and Delhi police teams is being carried out encompassing all aspects,' Gogia insisted.
Gogia also denied Meerut police's claim that there were not any trace of blood on the road where the incident supposedly happened. According to him, the blood spots were found inside the car as well as on the road.
Tripathi had also pointed out that only one 9mm cartridge was recovered, but there should have been more, as per the explanation given by the Delhi police. They had also claimed that there were only two rounds of gunshot fired — one bullet on Sanjeev's chest and the other on the knee of the other constable Sachin.
But Tripathi alleged that there was an unexplained third bullet mark that seem to have damaged the rearview mirror of the Wagon R. Gogia has no explanation for this.
Tripathi also alleged that, often, the lack of coordination between Delhi police and NCR police make it easy for criminals to slip through the police net. He had said that the alleged 'road rage' was a classic example of this lack of coordination.
Apparently, the incident that occurred in Meerut, was informed to Meerut police only after two hours. But according to Gogia, constable Vivek Tomar, who was driving the car, was to get both Sachin and Sanjeev to a hospital at the earliest. Immediately after, he informed senior officers of the Delhi police who then informed the Meerut police.
The Delhi police maintains 'that there was nothing yet to prove that the accused and the victims were known to each other.'
THAT FATEFUL DAY
On 15 May, South Delhi Special Staff team that included the deceased Sanjeev Kumar, a head constable, and two other constables, Vivek and Sachin, went on a secret mission to trace a gang of auto thieves in Meerut. They were near Gang Nahar in their Wagon R when a Santro purportedly overtook them and blocked their way. This had apparently resulted in an argument following which the Santro gang opened gunfires.
The head constable Sanjeev Kumar was shot in his chest and died on the spot, while constable Sachin took a bullet in his knee. The other constable, Vivek, along with Sanjeev's friend Pankaj were unhurt. Sanjeev Kumar had joined Delhi Police in the year of 1998 was survived by his wife and two children. He got the best beat officer award in February 2011.
According to Vivek Gogia, Joint Commissioner of Police, a 'line-up' investigation is on and three teams of Delhi police, along with Uttar Pradesh Police had visited the spot to gather intelligence. 'Statements of Sachin, the other constable who was shot on his knee, have been recorded. According to his statements, it was revealed that en route their secret mission to trace a gang of auto thieves in Meerut, they were way laided by a Santro near Gang Nahar. This had apparently resulted in an argument following which, the Santro gang opened gunfires,' said Gogia. Based on this, added Gogia, it appears to be an incident of chance skirmish.
A thorough professional investigation by Uttar Pradesh and Delhi police teams is being carried out encompassing all aspects,' Gogia insisted.
Gogia also denied Meerut police's claim that there were not any trace of blood on the road where the incident supposedly happened. According to him, the blood spots were found inside the car as well as on the road.
Tripathi had also pointed out that only one 9mm cartridge was recovered, but there should have been more, as per the explanation given by the Delhi police. They had also claimed that there were only two rounds of gunshot fired — one bullet on Sanjeev's chest and the other on the knee of the other constable Sachin.
But Tripathi alleged that there was an unexplained third bullet mark that seem to have damaged the rearview mirror of the Wagon R. Gogia has no explanation for this.
Tripathi also alleged that, often, the lack of coordination between Delhi police and NCR police make it easy for criminals to slip through the police net. He had said that the alleged 'road rage' was a classic example of this lack of coordination.
Apparently, the incident that occurred in Meerut, was informed to Meerut police only after two hours. But according to Gogia, constable Vivek Tomar, who was driving the car, was to get both Sachin and Sanjeev to a hospital at the earliest. Immediately after, he informed senior officers of the Delhi police who then informed the Meerut police.
The Delhi police maintains 'that there was nothing yet to prove that the accused and the victims were known to each other.'
THAT FATEFUL DAY
On 15 May, South Delhi Special Staff team that included the deceased Sanjeev Kumar, a head constable, and two other constables, Vivek and Sachin, went on a secret mission to trace a gang of auto thieves in Meerut. They were near Gang Nahar in their Wagon R when a Santro purportedly overtook them and blocked their way. This had apparently resulted in an argument following which the Santro gang opened gunfires.
The head constable Sanjeev Kumar was shot in his chest and died on the spot, while constable Sachin took a bullet in his knee. The other constable, Vivek, along with Sanjeev's friend Pankaj were unhurt. Sanjeev Kumar had joined Delhi Police in the year of 1998 was survived by his wife and two children. He got the best beat officer award in February 2011.
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