Controversy shrouds killing of MBA youth in police encounter

Dehradun, July 4 (PTI) Controversy surrounded gunning
down of an MBA qualified youth in an alleged police encounter,
with his parents claiming that he has no criminal history,
raising doubts that it could be a killing in a case of
mistaken identity.

Ranbir Singh, 22, hailing from Ghaziabad in India's
northern state of Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead Friday in an
alleged encounter with police in Ladpur jungles here in
India's northern state of Uttarakhand.

"We have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the
incident," Principal Secretary Home Subhash Kumar said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, said the
youth, who was riding a motor cycle along with two others,
snatched the revolver of a constable when their two-wheeler
was stopped during a checking of vehicles in view of President
of India Pratibha Patil's visit.

However, Ranbir's father Ravinder Singh said his son
is innocent. "Show me his criminal record. The police just
killed him to get (gallantry) medals. And the police are
threatening me now," he said, sobbing and trying to console
his wife.

Uttarakhand Inspector General of Police N A Ganapati
said the three boys were asked to stop by G D Bhatt, a
sub-inspector at Dalanwala area. When the police searched
their bag, a weapon was found in it, he said, adding that the
boys overpowered a policeman, snatched his revolver and fled.

When the Sub Inspector flashed a message over the
wireless, the boys were intercepted at another place and there
was an encounter in which Ranbir was killed, Ganapati said.

Ranbir's parents, who reached here Saturday morning,
created a ruckus at Doon Hospital where the autopsy was being
done.

"My son is innocent and has never faced any criminal
charge," his father, an ex-serviceman, said.

The IG (Police) said that as per the version of Ranbir's
father, his son had come in search of work.

Since, the two versions -- of his father and of the
police -- are conflicting, "we need an impartial inquiry into
the matter," Ganapati said, adding that in such cases a
magisterial inquiry or a probe by an independent agency is
ordered to bring out the facts.

He also said that investigations should take place in the
district where the incident has taken place.

Police said while Ranbir was killed in the encounter, the
other two youths managed to escape. A country-made pistol was
recovered from the deceased, they said.

On the basis of the driving license recovered from
Ranbir's body, the police informed his parents, who rushed
here Saturday early morning and sought strong action against
the policemen for killing their son.

The family members of the deceased also threatened to
move the court and the Human Rights Commission over the issue.

Demanding a high-level inquiry into the incident and
dismissal of the those involved, they alleged that police have
"cooked up a false story" to portray Ranbir as a criminal.

A resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, Ranbir recently
completed his MBA from Meerut University and had got campus
placement in Kotak Mahindra. He was to join his duty on July
five, his distraught family members said. PT