Two days after two constables allegedly burnt a 48-year-old man in south Delhi’s Neb Sarai area for not paying a bribe, Delhi police have failed to arrest the alleged accused. However, these suspected cops have been suspended soon after the matter came to light.
On Monday, the condition of Uday Chand, the victim, remained critical at Safdarjung hospital. Doctors said, ‘He has received 85 per cent burns on his body and chances of survival seem very less. He has been kept under observation.’
Chand and his family claimed that the two cops, identified as Raj Kumar and Surender Kumar, posted at Neb Sarai police station, had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Naveen, elder son of Chand, an auto-rickshaw driver. They paid the first installment of Rs 7,500. However, when they failed to pay the bribe, the cops kept Naveen hostage for a day. On late Saturday evening, when Chand went to rescue his son at Sainik Farms, the cops allegedly poured petrol on him and burnt him.
Late on Sunday, Chand’s statement was recorded before the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), in which he told the SDM that he was burnt by these two cops, while trying to rescue his son.
However, BS Jaiswal, deputy commissioner of police (south) said, ‘On Monday four to five eye-witnesses have approached us who said that Chand had set himself on fire. There are contradicting narratives to this incident, when you compare the statement given by Chand and his family, including two sons who are reportedly being extorted by the two cops.’
He added that till the department inquiry gets concluded, the police cannot take any action against the accused. They have been booked under sections, including attempt to murder and extortion of the Indian Penal Code. ‘A core team has been made, that is being headed by additional deputy commissioner-II and simultaneously another investigation is being carried out by an inspector from another police station to avoid any personal bias to the cops posted at Neb Sarai police station.’
Speaking to Millennium Post, Naveen said, ‘Soon after setting my father on fire, the duo managed to escape. I made a PCR call but the cops failed to reach the spot and I along with few persons, who were standing nearby, doused the fire by pouring sand on him. I took him to the hospital in my auto-rickshaw.’
On Monday, the condition of Uday Chand, the victim, remained critical at Safdarjung hospital. Doctors said, ‘He has received 85 per cent burns on his body and chances of survival seem very less. He has been kept under observation.’
Chand and his family claimed that the two cops, identified as Raj Kumar and Surender Kumar, posted at Neb Sarai police station, had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Naveen, elder son of Chand, an auto-rickshaw driver. They paid the first installment of Rs 7,500. However, when they failed to pay the bribe, the cops kept Naveen hostage for a day. On late Saturday evening, when Chand went to rescue his son at Sainik Farms, the cops allegedly poured petrol on him and burnt him.
Late on Sunday, Chand’s statement was recorded before the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), in which he told the SDM that he was burnt by these two cops, while trying to rescue his son.
However, BS Jaiswal, deputy commissioner of police (south) said, ‘On Monday four to five eye-witnesses have approached us who said that Chand had set himself on fire. There are contradicting narratives to this incident, when you compare the statement given by Chand and his family, including two sons who are reportedly being extorted by the two cops.’
He added that till the department inquiry gets concluded, the police cannot take any action against the accused. They have been booked under sections, including attempt to murder and extortion of the Indian Penal Code. ‘A core team has been made, that is being headed by additional deputy commissioner-II and simultaneously another investigation is being carried out by an inspector from another police station to avoid any personal bias to the cops posted at Neb Sarai police station.’
Speaking to Millennium Post, Naveen said, ‘Soon after setting my father on fire, the duo managed to escape. I made a PCR call but the cops failed to reach the spot and I along with few persons, who were standing nearby, doused the fire by pouring sand on him. I took him to the hospital in my auto-rickshaw.’