Three bodies found in Muzaffarnagar: Families allege police killed youths

Police, on their part, rejected the allegations and maintained that Sachin (24), Deepak (24) and Gaurav Rathi (20) were killed in firing among themselves. Police have said all the three youths had criminal cases against them. The families of Sachin and Gaurav claimed they were booked in petty cases.

The families of the deceased and several others attended a panchayat in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. “We don’t believe in the police theory because it is clear case of murder. Police killed my son and two other youths. I had submitted a complaint at the Mansurpur police station, seeking an FIR against policemen involved in the murder, but no action has been taken so far,” said Gaurav’s father Trilok Singh, a farmer. Gaurav, unmarried, ran a grocery store in Shamli.

Trilok Singh added, “We demand a CBI investigation into the case and the registration of an FIR against the policemen involved in the murder. In the panchayat held at a school at Mansurpur Saturday, it was decided that if no action is taken against the policemen and the case is not transferred to the CBI, a mahapanchayat would be held on October 3 to decide the future course of action. Leaders of several political parties attended the meeting.”

Sachin was the only son of Om Kar, who runs a restaurant in Dehradun. Sachin, also unmarried, lived at Om Kar’s ancestral house in Bagpat and drove a private vehicle. “I have been told by people of Muzaffarnagar that my son was shot dead. If the allegation is true, action should be taken,” said Om Kar.

The family of Deepak Rathi, also hailing from Bagpat district, could not be contacted.

BJP worker Nitin Malik, who was present at the meeting on Saturday, said, “We are with the families of the three youths. We will ensure that they get justice.”

Mansurpur police Station Officer Jasbir Singh said, “We suspect the three were killed in firing among themselves. An FIR against an unidentified person on charges of murder and attempt to murder has been filed and investigation is on.” He denied receiving any complaint from Gaurav’s father.

According to police, they were informed on Wednesday that a criminal was hiding in a house at Ghatipura village in Mansurpur.

A police team rushed to the spot and gheraoed the house. The accused allegedly opened fire on the police team from the terrace.

Police have claimed that after the firing stopped, they went up to the terrace and found the three bodies with bullet wounds. Four countrymade pistols were recovered from the spot. The three were identified by the voter ID cards and PAN cards found on them.