On Friday, the UP police beat a 17 year old vegetable vendor to death. The vendor had violated Covid-19 restrictions, apparently. The incident took place in UP’s Bangarmau town.
Given the surge in the devastation caused by Covid-19, the state of Uttar Pradesh has imposed a partial curfew. The incident has triggered protests and also an official probe.
The victim, Mohammad Faisal’s father has said that his son was selling vegetables at the local market, after the deadline of 3 p.m., and the accused policeman Vijay Chowdhary and home guard Satya Pradesh started beating him for violating the Covid norms.
“We got a telephone call from a vendor who told us about the assault. I reached the kotwali but by that time, he was taken to the hospital. On getting there, I learnt he was dead,” he said. Faisal died around 4:30 p.m.
His family has filed a police complaint. The complaint mentioned that he had lost consciousness after being beaten but was still taken to the local police station. His condition worsened at the police station and he was referred to the Community Health Centre in the Bangarmau town.
Shashi Shekhar, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Unnao said that the complaint has been filed and the accused Chowdhary will be booked for murder. The Superintendent of Police, Unnao has suspended Chowdhary. Meanwhile, Satya has been sacked and a case will be lodged against them, according to a statement released by the police.
However, Faisal’s family has accused the police of shielding the other accused.
Several people gathered in a protest demonstration, angered by Faisal’s death. The protesters demand compensation to the family and that the strict action be taken against the security personnel involved in the murder.