Girl’s killing: None named in FIR, family in shock

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 28

Forty eight-year-old Neelam Sharma is inconsolable, while her son blames the state police for killing his sister, Neha Sharma, at a naka in Samana.

The Samana police team led by Harwinder Khaira that is accused of firing at the woman yesterday escaped action as the Patiala police registered a case against unknown persons for causing the death.

While the family waited for the body to be handed over to them at Government Rajindra Hospital, policemen in uniform and civvies kept a close eye on the developments.

Initially demanding strict punishment for the guilty policemen who fired at their daughter and left her at the spot, the family retracted following alleged pressure by the administration.

Throughout the day, local officers were seen trying to pressure the victim’s family for a compromise and not raise the matter in the media.

Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi said: “They are using pressure tactics to buy their silence. The government must answer and heads must roll. We cannot allow people to be killed on road like this.”

Patiala (Rural) MLA Brahm Mohindra, MPDharamvira Gandhi and AAP leaders attended the cremation. Following their interference, the district administration assured a job for a member in the family.

Following the mayhem after the jailbreak, the police laid a naka near Ramnagar in Samana when a speeding Swift Dzire was signaled to stop. The car could not stop following which a policeman at the naka fired from his AK-47 weapon.

"Two shots were fired. One bullet hit Neha Sharma, sitting on the front seat, in the chest, killing her on the spot. The second bullet pierced through the leg of a bike rider," said eyewitnesses. The police team and the SHO fled the scene. Angry passersby reportedly chased the police team and caught hold of a Home Guard. A video footage reportedly showing the incident has also surfaced on the social media.