In a shocking incident, Tauru Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Surender Singh was mowed down by an overloaded truck while trying to stop mining activities near Pachgaon village in the Nuh district on Tuesday.
One accused was later arrested after getting injured in a shootout with the police, said police officials. "One accused has been arrested following an encounter. He has been shot in the leg. Teams are conducting raids to arrest others accused also. Strict action will be taken," said a senior police officer.
Police sources said that acting on a tip-off, the 59-year-old Singh had arrived at Pachgaon under Sadar police station area at around 11.30 am to stop the truck which was carrying stones illegally.
Spotting a suspicious-looking dumper there, DSP who was accompanied by two policemen, a driver and a gunman, signaled the driver to stop. But the driver, instead of applying brakes, in a bid to speed away from the spot, tried to run over the men present there.
While the gunman and others jumped away from the direction of the advancing vehicle to save their lives, the DSP came in its way and got a hit and sustained serious injuries. Soon, he was rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. According to local authorities, Singh died on the spot. "When the DSP reached the spot, there was an illegal truck. He alighted from the car and went near the truck. The truck driver, instead of coming out, ran over Singh," said Nuh police spokesperson Krishna Kumar.
Haryana ADGP (law and order) Sandeep Khirwar said that they have registered a case of IPC sections 302 (murder), 307, 333, 186, 353 along with 379 and 188, and they will come out with full progress of the case very soon. Singh was recruited as assistant-sub inspector in Haryana Police in 1994. He was currently posted as DSP, Tauru, and was to retire in four months. He was a native of Sarangpur village in Hisar and currently lived with his family in Kurukshetra.
Reacting to the incident, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in the case of murder of DSP Tauru, orders have been given to take strict action. Not a single culprit will be spared.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said, "I have given directions for stringent action against the culprits. If needed, we will call the police from nearby districts to nab the culprits. No one will be spared."
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, called the incident shameful. “Mining mafia is going out of hand. Law and order situation is deteriorating. MLAs are being threatened, police are also not safe. How will the public feel safe? The government needs to act,” the Congress leader said.
Expressing deep condolences on the unfortunate death of DSP, Chief Minister Khattar announced a relief of Rs 1 crore and job to one of the family members of the DSP. The state government is standing with the bereaved family in this hour of grief and strict action would surely be taken against those found guilty. Singh was a brave officer and his bravery will always be remembered, added Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that Singh has sacrificed his life while investigating an illegal mining case in Nuh district. Police posts will be set up near the mining area as well as posts will be made on the border with other states, he added. The Chief Minister said that Singh sacrificed his life while performing his duty with bravery and honesty. His sacrifice will always be remembered. The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to eliminate the mining mafia in the state. The culprits would not be spared at any cost, he added.