Shakarpur residents go on rampage, damage PCR van

NEW DELHI, January 7: Around 300 persons went on a rampage in the Shakarpur area this afternoon, following rumours that a policeman had push...

NEW DELHI, January 7: Around 300 persons went on a rampage in the Shakarpur area this afternoon, following rumours that a policeman had pushed a man into a drain leading to his death. The mob damaged a police control room van but the policemen inside escaped unhurt.

The situation was brought under control after the agitated mob realised that Hemraj Gupta, 60, had suffered a heart attack and had not been pushed into the drain.

The incident occurred after one of the residents had put up a tent on a plot adjoining his house to accommodate guests coming for his daughter’s birthday party. But other residents raised objections, saying that the structure was illegal.

Some of them then informed the local MCD and the police about this. When the latter arrived around 12.30 p.m., they were requested to allow the function to continue since it would not last for more than two hours.

Though the police acceded to the request, the MCD officials reportedly insisted on the tent being removed. This led to an altercationbetween the residents and the police. In the ensuing confusion, Gupta, who was an onlooker, collapsed inside the tent.

As tempers flared, bystanders blamed the police and the MCD officials for the incident. Noticing a PCR van parked nearby, they started pelting stones at it. The windshield and the windows were shattered and the body of the car was badly damaged.

The PCR personnel sent a wireless message to the Shakarpur police station saying that they were surrounded by a mob. A police contingent reached the spot within 15 minutes.

Story continues below this ad

Gupta was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Though the deceased’s family refused to allow a post mortem, the police said that doctors at the hospital had concluded that Gupta had died of a heart attack.

It was only after senior officials intervened and explained the circumstances of Gupta’s death to the agitating crowd that the mob was pacified.

No one has been arrested and the police have not registered a case.