Bystander shot at by policeman

GHAZIABAD: A bystander, 30-year-old Pavan Kumar, was shot in the right leg by a policeman who was pursuing fleeing alleged criminals, here on Saturday. The injured man had to have his limb amputated.
Other bystanders, including the injured man’s lawyer brother Amrish, then beat up the policeman.
But despite the victim’s mother filing a written report at the Pilkhuwa police station, no case had been registered until Monday against the alleged culprit, constable Shriyendra.In fact, the police claim Pavan was shot at by one of the criminals. Pavan’s brother and three others have been arrested for beating up the constable and allegedly helping the criminals to escape. Asked why criminals being aided by Amrish should shoot at his brother, a Pilkhuwa policeman P L Yadav said, ‘‘The matter is under investigation. Who shot Pavan is also to be investigated.
Doctors at Ghaziabad’s Poddar nursing home said, ‘‘Pavan was shot from close range as there are powder burns on his left leg. The bone and tissue in his right leg were completely destroyed and the limb had to be amputated.’’
In Pilkhuwa’s Ramlila Maidan colony, where Pavan was shot, residents expressed anger at the police for ‘‘protecting the constable and framing Amrish’’. They said, ‘‘We saw the policeman fire at Pavan. And dozens of us went to the police station to complain, but they threw us out.’’
According to the police, at 7 pm on Saturday four men came to the Bharat restaurant, in Pilkhuwa’s bus depot area. They shot dead Virendra, a financier. Pavan, who was also there, was shot at.
Three constables from a nearby picket chased the assailants and Shriyendra nabbed one of the killers some distance away. However, ‘‘Amrish and three other men beat up Shriyendra to help the criminal escape,’’ said Yadav.
But Pilkhuwa residents denied this. They said nobody other than Virendra was shot near Bharat Hotel. Pavan was shot at least half a kilometre away.
A senior police official also denied any knowledge of a complaint by Pavan’s mother, but said the ‘‘matter is being investigated’’.