Student mistaken for a criminal, shot dead by cops

Haryana Police gunned a student in Bhiwani late on Sunday night in a case of mistaken identity.


The 20-year-old student, Kuldeep Singh, was shot dead while he was returning back home after a party with his friends. The police were allegedly on the lookout for a criminal, Dara Singh, when the tragic incident occurred.


An FIR has been registered in the case and one policeman has been arrested. The main accused constable Karmbir Singh was arrested after the registration of a case against eight cops following the killing of Kuldeep, a student of a local Vaish College.


"There were four men in a jeep and two of them got out. The one in plain clothes shot my brother on the forehead. When they realised he had been shot the policemen ran away," the victim's brother said.


Bhiwani District Commissioner Satya Prakash clarified that the act was unintentional and a FIR has been registered.


"In a case of bank robbery the police had nabbed two people and there was search going on for the other two involved. They belonged to a village in Bhiwani. There was some information that the people would be coming to the same place. The police were waiting and at 0115 hrs IST and they saw three people coming and after repeated requests they did not stop," Prakash said.


"It was an unintentional act. An FIR has been filed. The victim was taken to hospital at 0415 hrs IST. We are investigating the policeman who fired. They went to the thana (police station) and confession was made," he added.


Prakash also said that the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bhiwani Shiv Prasad Sharma has been asked to investigate the incident.


The SDM would complete his probe at the earliest and submit a report to the District Administration after which further action would be taken against the guilty.



Meanwhile, students went on a rampage in Bhiwani after the tragic incident.


Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda said that the guilty will not be spared.


"The police are at fault. It is an unfortunate incident and a case has been registered. The guilty will be punished and we have given Rs 5 lakh to the victim's family," Hooda said.


However, Kuldeep's father said that he won't accept the compensation offered by the Chief Minister.


Meanwhile, former chief minister Bhajan Lal visited Kuldeep's home and demanded strict action against the guilty.


Abhay Chautala, the son of another former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, accused the state police of orchestrating fake encounters.


"The Chief Minister and his government claim that they have chased away anti-social elements from the state. In reality the police are killing innocent people in fake encounters," Chautala said