HRY MAN FOUND DEAD AFTER RAID
Cops say raid was conducted at an illegal mining site, man died after falling from a tractor in a bid to escape
YAMUNANAGAR: Residents of Arainyawala village on Saturday turned violent after the death of a 25-year-old man, Sonu, of their village in an alleged clash between the police and men indulging in illegal mining at Lal Topi Ghat near Hathnikund Barrage of Yamunanagar district.
The protesters, including the family of the victim, alleged that Sonu died after a stone that the police threw hit him on the head. The police version, however, is that Sonu was killed after he fell from a tractor in a bid to escape from a raiding police team at a spot in Lal Topi area, where illegal mining was going on.
Irate protesters refused to cremate the body and also blocked the Jagadhri-paonta Sahib national highway near the village for more than five hours. The mob also thrashed Chhachhrauli station house officer Virender Kumar who had reached the spot to pacify the villagers. Windowpanes of two police vehicles were also smashed.
Later, an unconscious SHO was rushed to the Yamunanagar civil hospital.
Heavy police deployment had to be made to control the protesters. Yamunanagar SP Rajesh Kalia told HT, “Khizrabad SHO led a police party to conduct a raid against the illegal mining of sand in the Lal Topi area on Saturday early morning. During the raid, Sonu, who was at the spot, tried to flee. In this attempt, he fell from a tractor and was killed.”
He confirmed that Chhachhrauli SHO had been thrashed. “A case will be registered after he gives his statement,” Kalia added.
Protesters agreed to lift the blockade on the Jagadhri-paonta Sahib road after five hours. The SP added that the police were waiting for the autopsy report and had registered a case under Section 174 (unnatural death) of the CRPC. Police officials claim that illegal mining had emerged as a major law and order issue
THE UNCONSCIOUS SHO WAS RUSHED TO THE YAMUNANAGAR CIVIL HOSPITAL