The family of the deceased has vehemently contested the police version, alleging that Bilal, a vegetable vendor, was the victim of a fake encounter.
Team Clarion
MEERUT – A 28-year-old Muslim man, identified as Mohd Bilal, succumbed to gunshot wounds on Wednesday night, following an “exchange of fire” with the police a day earlier in Meerut’s Mawana region.
Bilal was arrested along with his aide, Abdul Samad, after four police units attempted to stop their vehicle, leading to a confrontation.
According to SSP Meerut, Rohit Singh Sajwan, the police had received information about a stolen SUV a week ago, and a preliminary probe suggested that the vehicle was used in a crime. Acting on a tip-off, the police confronted Bilal and his aide in the Mawana region. The confrontation escalated into an exchange of gunfire, resulting in Bilal sustaining bullet injuries. He was immediately transported to a city medical facility.
SP (City) Meerut, Ayush Vikram Singh, stated that, as of now, no criminal antecedents have been found against Bilal. The deceased’s uncle, Sonu, has raised allegations, claiming that Bilal was falsely framed and did not steal a car.
Dr. Rizwan Khan, who attended to Bilal, said his intestine was ruptured, and some veins were damaged. The bullet was not removed due to some medical complications, he said.
The family of the deceased has vehemently contested the police version, alleging that Bilal, a vegetable vendor, was the victim of a fake encounter. The family members, including Bilal’s uncle Sonu, staged a protest at a police station, accusing the police of forcibly implicating Bilal in the case and orchestrating his death.