Policemen fired straight at crowds — Victims’ kin

The indefinite curfew continued today without any relaxation, causing hardship to the residents of the area. A large contingent of police forces, including four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), were deployed in Dariapur, where nine shops were looted and ten government vehicles, including three buses were burnt. Seventeen policemen were also injured in the stone-throwing incident.

People said the death of four persons in police firing could have been avoided, had the cops stuck to the guidelines of the National Human Rights’ Commission (NHRC) and the Central Government. Both clearly state that police firing on mobs should not be directed on the upper portion of the body, which could prove fatal, but at the legs.

The bullet-injuries received by the victims show that the police fired straight on the crowd, leading to injuries on the upper torso and the consequent deaths. However, in defence of the policemen, police officials said they had to fire as the mob had turned extremely violent and the cops, greatly outnumbered, were obliged to defend themselves.

But the guidelines for the police are clear. Under any circumstances, they have to open fire below the knees of the people. This directive also applies to criminals trying to flee from police-custody or attempting to attack `police-officials on duty’. The NHRC and the Amnesty International say the same thing.

Talking to The Indian Express

, NHRC special repertoire P G J Nampoothri said, “The general instructions say that the police must target the portion of the body below the knee of the person to avoid cases of death in police-firing.” Nampoothri, who is also a former director-general of the State Police, refused to comment further on the firing-incident.

However, city police officers have their own explanation. “When the people try to set ablaze Government property or attack the police, how can one expect policemen to keep their cool and open fire targetting only their knees and below?” asked an officer, who did not want to be named.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Gyan Ahuja, who was consoling the victims’ family-members, said, “At times like this, it is not always possible for the policemen to target the fire perfectly, abiding by the human rights norms.”

Another senior police-officer said, “Only regular firing practices by the police, specially the ones who are deployed with armed forces like the SRP, can prevent such incidents. But we do not have much funds or grants from the Government for holding regular training.”

Relatives and friends of all the four victims alleged that the SRP men fired indiscriminately. “They did not issue a warning and fired from a very close range of about 12 to 14 feet,” Mohammed Ibrahim Khan, friend of 30-year-old Mohammed Juber Ibrahim, one of the victims, alleged.

Abdul Aziz Rassiwala, brother of another victim, Abdul Hamid Rassiwala, also made the same allegation. “Hamid, who stays in Juhapura, had came to inform us in Dariapur about the sudden death of a relative. He was going back when he was killed in the police firing,” Abdul Aziz said.