8-yr-old killed in police crossfire; 4 suspended

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, January 18

Four policemen were today suspended after an eight-year-old boy was allegedly killed in cross-firing during an encounter between a police team and criminals at Mohanpura village in Mathura on Wednesday.

Those suspended are Sub-Inspector Virendra Singh Yadav for firing, Sub-Inspector Saurabh Sharma, constables Subhash Chandra and Udham Singh for dereliction of duty.

IG Agra Zone Durga Charan Mishra today visited the village and met parents of the boy, Madhav — a nursery student. Mathura District Magistrate SR Mishra handed over a Rs 5-lakh cheque, compensation announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to Madhav’s family.

A police team yesterday went to the village after a tip-off that the robbers were hiding there. The boy’s grandfather told the policemen that no one was hiding there, but they started firing. A bullet hit Madhav, who was playing with his friends near his house. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. A case has been registered at the Highway police station of Mathura.