Cop held for killing farmer
By IANSTuesday, February 22, 2011
JALGAON - A policeman was arrested for killing a farmer in this Maharashtra district Tuesday, police said. An eyewitness alleged that the farmer died after the policeman beat him up. The incident sparked violent protests by residents.
Faijpur division’s Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Dilip Shankarwar has been booked for murdering Suresh Chaudhary (55). He will be produced in court Wednesday.
According to a complaint filed by Yunus Tadvi (22), who was with the victim at the time of the incident, Chaudhary was beaten up by Shankarwar.
Shankarwar was on duty patrolling schools were state board exams were being held in Yawal town, some 90 km from the district headquarters of Jalgaon.
At a school in Yawal town he saw Chaudhary and questioned his presence. “Shankarwar saw him standing inside the school premises and asked him to leave as he had nothing to do at the school,” a police officer from the Yawal Police Station told IANS.
Tadvi who had come along with the Chaudhary, however, claimed in his complaint that he saw Chaudhary being beaten up by Shankarwar.
“Tadvi has, in his complaint, mentioned that Chaudhary suffered a fit and died because of the beating,” the official said.
Following the incident, angry protestors pelted stones at the local police station. Tadvi was accompanied by Chaudharys relatives when he lodged the complaint.
