Boy dies in ‘police encounter’ in UP

Lucknow: An eight–year-old boy, Madhav Bharadwaj, was killed after being allegedly caught in crossfire during a police “encounter” in Mohanpura village in Mathura on Wednesday night.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath, around midnight, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the victim and also asked the IG Agra to probe the incident.

After receiving the report of the inquiry, two sub-inspectors and two constables have been placed under suspension. A case has also been registered against them.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has sought a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family of the deceased.

According to reports, the boy was playing with his friends outside his house when he was hit by a bullet in the head.

Madhav’s grandfather, Shiv Shankar, who was present on the spot, said that three policemen came to the village late on Wednesday evening and called the alleged criminals on the terrace of a temple for talks.

“Without any warning, the cops opened fire and my grandson was hit,” he said. The grandfather said that one of the cops took the child in his arms and ran towards the crossing where he handed over the boy to the villagers, asking them to take him to the hospital.

The cops allegedly fled after the incident and the local people took him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The villagers claimed that there was no excha-nge of fire and that the police opened fire at the alleged criminals after cornering them. Mathura SSP Swapnil Mangain said a case, based on the complaint of villagers, is being registered.