An eight-year-old nursery student was killed in a crossfire between the police and "gangsters accused of robbery" in Mohanpura in Uttar Pradesh, where over 900 encounters have been reported since Yogi Adityanath became chief minister on March 19, 2017.
The dead child was identified as Madhav.
The National Human Right Commission has taken cognizance of the spurt in encounters in UP and has issued multiple notices. The police have gunned down 31 notorious criminals in less than a year.Adityanath had declared: "We will counter bullets with bullets."
The police said they reached a field where the gangsters were hiding. There are reports that say police asked all the criminals to gather at a spot, and opened fire.
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The police reportedly tried to ferret them out and opened fire when they began to flee. A bullet hit Madhav in the head, who was playing with his friends in the vicinity. The boy’s family rushed him to hospital where he died.
Madhav's kin accused the police of being irresponsible. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swapnil Mamgai said the matter is being probed.
"It is a very unfortunate incident, and I extend complete support to the family. The matter will be looked into by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who will examine the case from all angles and reveal if there was any negligence on behalf of the police. The body of the child has been sent for postmortem," Swapnil told reporters here.
He said compensation is being offered to the family.
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(With ANI inputs)
