Shillong, Mar 13: East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem has justified the police firing during a mob attack on a team of Meghalaya police in Nuh district, Haryana, saying officers opened fire only after a violent crowd attempted to lynch them and snatch their weapons.
Addressing the incident, Syiem said the police team had produced one of the arrested accused, Rahul, in a local court on March 10 and was escorting him back to the city when they were intercepted by a group of around 30 people at Sikravah.
In a viral video, a Meghalaya Police Gypsy was surrounded by a crowd and attempts were made to free the accused.
According to the SP, the accused tried to grab the steering wheel and overturn the car. Thereafter the crowd assembled demanding that the accused be released. The situation escalated as the mob allegedly tried to snatch the police personnel’s weapons.
“The police personnel on the spot acted with restraint and responsibility. They fired in the air and also on the ground. One of the bullets ricocheted and hit a person,” Syiem said, adding that the injured individual is recovering.
The firing was carried out because the officers feared for their lives as the mob had turned violent and attempted to lynch the police personnel.
Following the incident, a case has been registered in Haryana and around 12 individuals involved in the attack have been identified. The investigation is ongoing.
He noted that carrying out such operations in Nuh district is challenging due to its history of criminal activity. “It is not easy because it is a very crime-prone district,” Syiem said.
