Trip to market ends with body in morgue
VICTIM OF VIOLENCE 24yrold was running an errand for his ailing mother, now family is waiting to get his body
When Mohammad Raees’ mother sent him to market to buy a few things for an ongoing function at their home Friday night, she had no inkling that it would be the last time he would be running an errand for her.
Twenty-four-year-old Raees left for the market in Ramganj area of Jaipur, but never returned home.
He was killed, allegedly by a police bullet when the forces opened fire to control a mob that had went berserk following an incident of an alleged assault of a couple by a constable in the area.
In a mayhem that lasted about 40 minutes, the mob torched a power house and five vehicles, including an ambulance and a police jeep, prompting police to resort to tear gas shells, rubber pellets before firing in the air. While several people including some policemen were injured in the clashes, Raees, a second year student of BA, was the only one who sustained a bullet wound. He suffered the gunshot on his left shoulder.
Doctors at the SMS Hospital where Raees was taken, declared him brought dead.
“I still can’t believe that Raees is no more,” said an emotional Mohammad Jameel as he stood outside the mortuary at SMS Hospital on Saturday waiting for doctors to hand over his younger brother’s body.
Raees was youngest among eight siblings. Jameel said that their father died three years ago. Their 60-year old ailing mother was in a shock at home.
“It was around 10pm when mother sent Raees to buy some things as a programme was going on at our home,” said Jameel who runs an auto parts shop on Delhi Road.
“When he did not turn up till 11pm, I called him on his phone. Someone else received the call and told me that an accident has taken place and I should reach the market area immediately,” he said.
Jameel said Raees was rushed to the SMS Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. He claimed that his brother died of excessive bleeding.
According to police, the exact cause of death will be ascertained only after the post-mortem report comes.
Jameel said: “it was surprising” that police opted to open fire even when it has other means to disperse the crowd.
“Even if they had to fire, they are supposed to aim below the waist and not at the chest or the shoulder,” Jameel said demanding that every official at the Ramganj police station be suspended.
“We demand that the government suspend the entire staff of Ramganj police station. We also demand compensation and a government job. Also, in the name of inquiry, the police should not harass any innocent person,” Jameel said.
Former Congress MP from Jaipur Mahesh Joshi, who met the family members of Raees outside the mortuary, said the way police handled the entire incident was wrong.
“High level investigation should be launched. The situation is very volatile in the area and people should be taken into confidence to establish peace there,” he added.
Joshi said that “no innocent” should be arrested.
Meanwhile, SMS hospital medical superintendent Dr DS Meena said at around 11pm on Friday, four injured policemen were brought to the hospital.
“They had sustained injuries on face, head, chest and back and are undergoing treatment. Their condition is stable and they are out of danger,” doctor Meena said.
Following the mayhem, curfew was imposed in four police station areas of the city, internet services were suspended and schools in the curfew-laden areas have been closed.