Bhiwani (Haryana), June 20 (IANS) A probe was ordered into the alleged killing of a youth by policemen in Haryana’s Bhiwani district after protests by villagers, an official said Friday. Mahinder Kumar was shot dead by a police party at a barricade near Tosham town, 25 km from here, late Wednesday. Mahinder, a taxi driver, was the sole bread-earner of his family.

Sanjay Kumar, the Bhiwani district police chief, claimed Mahinder did not stop at the barricade when signalled to do so by the police party and fired on them.

However, villagers and family members of Kumar said he was innocent and had been hit on the back by the police. They blocked traffic on the main highway near Bhiwani Thursday to protest his killing, forcing the police to begin a probe.

Sanjay Kumar said an investigation into Mahinder’s killing was ordered Thursday night.

The killing of the youth is likely to further embarrass the state police after a woman from Rohtak and a youth near Karnal committed suicide in the last 10 days owing to police excesses.

Haryana’s Director General of Police Ranjiv Singh Dalal Thursday said three police officials, including a sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector, had been dismissed from service on corruption charges. Two of them were posted in Jind district while one was posted in Mewat district.