Man killed in east Delhi firing was family's sole provider

New Delhi,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 03 Sep 2012 IANS

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) While the police denying any role in his death, Vinod Singh Negi's widowed mother and married sister in Uttarakhand have lost their sole breadwinner in the killing of the young man in alleged police firing in east Delhi Sunday night.

Negi, who worked in a private company in Noida, was a resident of Khoda in Mayur Vihar Phase III. According to an official, Negi was returning from work late in the evening when an angry mob was indulging in arson and vandalism to protest injury to a motorcyclist due to alleged police action. Police then allegedly opened fire to control the crowd.

Negi, a resident of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, was hit by a bullet on the left side of his chest and died in hospital. "He was hit when police fired at the mob to restrain them," said an administration official on condition of anonymity.

However, senior police officials have claimed that Negi was not killed in police firing.

"The deceased was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital where he was declared dead," said a police officer.

Negi's father died a few years ago. He was providing for his widowed mother, his married sister and her unemployed husband in Uttarakhand.

"He was the only bread earner of his family after the death of his father," the official said.

Violence erupted in Khoda Sunday night after reports that a two-wheeler rider Kamruddin, in his 20s, was grievously injured at the police picket.

Police have denied any role in injury to Kamruddin. An official said: "He was asked to stop his Honda Aviator scooty, but did not and hit the picket. He was drunk."

However, locals allege the man was hit on the head and was lying on the road in an injured condition for quite some time. Kamruddin is admitted to Guru Tegh Bahadur hospital.

A mob collected at the spot and started pelting stones at the police team. They also set on fire a DTC bus, a mini truck, a car, three bikes and a police booth in Khoda.

Police said they had to fire shots in the air and use tear gas to restrain the crowd.