Noida cop shoots gym trainer in an ‘encounter’
NOIDA: A 25-year-old gymnasium owner and trainer was severely injured after a trainee police subinspector shot at him from close range on late Saturday night near Shramik Kunj in Sector 122, Noida. The victim suffered bullet injury in his neck and was admitted to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.
The family of the victim has alleged that the policeman in question tried to portray the incident as an encounter while senior superintendent of police (SSP) later denied claims of it being an encounter.
The victim, identified as Jitendra Yadav, a resident of Parthala village, was returning from his cousin’s wedding in Behrampur village. He was accompanied by his elder brother Dharmendra, uncle Kripal and two friends Sunil Jat and Gautam.
“We were returning from our cousin’s wedding at around 10 pm in a Scorpio SUV. Trainee sub-inspector Vijay Darshan and three of his colleagues overtook our car. They were driving a red Brezza. They started abusing us and asked as to why we were playing the music loudly and what were we doing there,” said Dharmendra.
Dharmendra claimed that Darshan stopped their car and asked them to handover their car keys. Jitendra refused to do so and they got into an altercation.
“Jitendra tried to call our family members to inform about the incident, but Darshan took away his phone. He started beating us up and he was continuously saying that he will do our encounter. While the altercation was going on, suddenly, Darshan shot at Jitendra after which all of us got scared. Darshan then called up somebody from his department and informed about the incident using the word ‘encounter’ during his conversation,” added Dharmendra.
Jitendra was taken to the hospital by Darshan and other three policemen at around 11.30 pm.
According to the police, Darshan was accompanied by trainee sub-inspector Pankaj and constables Narendra and Sanjay Tamta. Both Pankaj and Darshan were in civil dress while the constables were in uniform. Pistol used by Darshan to shoot Jitendra was departmental, said the police.
However, senior superintendent of police Love Kumar denied that the incident was an encounter attempt. Kumar, during a press briefing, said that Darshan and Dharmendra knew each other for a long time and it was not a case of any encounter.
Officials said that Darshan has been suspended and arrested by the Phase 3 police. The other three police personnel have also been suspended with immediate effect, the SSP added.
“Darshan and Dharmendra are very well known to each other...,” said Kumar.
“Darshan said that he stopped Jitendra and others as he had got information that they were drinking and playing loud music in their SUV. Darshan shot Jitendra when he was trying to make all of them sit in their own car so that Darshan could escort them to the police station. We are verifying all facts before coming to any conclusion,” added Kumar.
On the other hand, Jitendra’s uncle has denied police’s claim.
“Jitendra cannot be drunk as he is into gym training. Dharmendra knew Darshan as ours is a small village where people are known to local cops. Darshan also used to work out in Jitendra’s gym sometimes for free,” said Virendra Yadav, maternal uncle of Jitendra.
The family has also complained that Darshan robbed Jitendra of his gold accessories, purse and mobile. The police has booked a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) and 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) of IPC .