Ghaziabad, Nov 17 (IANS) Three police officials were suspended Tuesday for the death of a man in “accidental” firing that had led to an angry mob setting fire to a police station here and damaging several vehicles the evening before.
Superintendent of Police (rural) K.K. Asthana, Circle Officer Rajpal Singh and Station House Officer (Simbhaoli police station) K.P.S. Chahal have been suspended following Monday’s incident in western Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad town, on the outskirts of the national capital, an official said.

At about 7 p.m. Monday, a police patrol team from the Simbhaoli police station noticed six men engaged in gambling. When the men noticed the police coming towards them, some of them attempted to flee. But the police opened fire on them, injuring one of the men. The other five fled the spot.

The police then took the injured man to the Ghaziabad-based Government MMG Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The victim was identified as Parvez, 30, a resident of village Vat under Simbhaoli police station.

As news of his death spread in the area, angry residents blocked vehicular movement on National Highway-24 and set fire to the Simbhaoli police station. When the police and civil administration officials attempted to bring the situation under control and tried to clear the highway, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sheel Kumar sustained critical head injuries. He was rushed to the hospital at Ghaziabad.

Another mob assembled on the highway and burnt a police vehicle. The mob also damaged several private and public vehicles that were stuck on the highway.

Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Kumar had Monday admitted that it was a mistake on the police’s part that had led to the violence.