Indore deaths: Three cops booked

The two youths’ families have named three policemen who fired indiscriminately at the group. Based on the statement of Khalid, a relative of Zishan, a case of murder has been registered against constables Jitendra Sen, Yashwant Pawar and Neeraj Gautam. The accused cops live in Chouthi Paltan Police Line, not far from the area where the victims’ houses are located. Sen’s brother runs a barber’s shop in the same locality.

“The victims were on their way back after offering prayers when they were fired at from the police lines. There was no warning,” said Rizwan’s uncle, Abid. He said though a few policemen fired in the air, the accused cops only targeted the group.

The police, in their defence, claimed the group was returning from Jinsi locality, which had witnessed heavy stone- pelting just before the firing. Inspector J D Bhonsle of Sadar Bazar Police Station, where an FIR has been registered against the accused cops, claimed the policemen could have fired in self defence.

IG (Indore Range) Anil Kumar said an FIR had been registered because the complainant named the cops and said that they were not in uniform. He said only an investigation would reveal if their was an old enmity.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed between 4 pm and 6 pm in 11 police station areas of the state’s commercial capital on Saturday. The authorities said it would be relaxed for a couple of hours on Sunday morning.