Gzb constable wanted for firing on colleague held, suspended

The Ghaziabad police on Sunday arrested the constable who allegedly fired at his colleague with his service pistol, leading to his death at a private hospital on December 2. Following the incident, the accused was absconding, but was traced to Loha Mandi in the city and held.

The Ghaziabad police on Sunday arrested the constable who allegedly fired at his colleague with his service pistol, leading to his death at a private hospital on December 2. Following the incident, the accused was absconding, but was traced to Loha Mandi in the city and held.

Umesh Yadav died at Yashoda Hospital on December 2. (HT)

Following the arrest of the accused, Umesh Yadav, the police also recovered his 9mm service pistol that was allegedly used in the incident, which resulted in the death of constable Sukhbir Singh.

“The accused has been arrested and his pistol also recovered. He is suspended from duty. In his initial statements, he said that it was an accidental fire that led to the death of the victim and it was not intentional. However, the investigation will continue and the accused will be taken on a remand,” Salmantaj Patil, superintendent of police (city), said.

Sukhbir Singh had sustained a gunshot from close range following an alleged altercation with Umesh on the night of December 1 outside the Loha Mandi police post. The area falls under the Kavi Nagar police station.

He was admitted to Yashoda Hospital and operated upon but died around 2.30am the next day due to heavy internal bleeding and damage to internal organs. Both Singh and Yadav were on duty at the time of the incident.

Sukhbir was posted with PCR van 37 while Umesh was posted at the police post.

Following the incident, the police lodged a case of attempt to murder and also charged the accused under the provisions of the SC/ST Act. The section of attempt to murder was later converted to murder after Sukhbir died.

Sources said that they were both having alcoholic drinks when they got into an altercation, and Umesh is alleged to have fired at the victim from a close range. The Ghaziabad police are conducting a detailed inquiry into the incident.