HAPUR (Ghaziabad): In a clear case of justice gone wrong, thousands of rioting Hapur traders, enraged at a recent crime spurt, beat up the Ghaziabad district magistrate (DM) and superintendent of police (city), set fire to the DM’s car and smashed vehicles and furniture at the Hapur police station, on Tuesday.

 

Police officers, quickly formed a security ring around the DM. Two deputy SP’s were also roughed up. The six policemen present at the station locked themselves in and, climbing to the roof, fired several rounds in the air to save themselves from the mob. DM Santosh Yadav’s car was completely gutted. Two fire tenders, which rushed to put out the fire, were also damaged.

 

Reinforcements were also rushed to the spot. Police resorted to a lathi charge at the police station, and one at the tehsil, to disperse the rioters.

 

The Hapur police station chief was also suspended, for laxity and inability to curb crime. More suspensions are expected at the police station. Superintendent of police (Rural), Anil Kumar, has been asked to identify the other negligent Hapur policemen. A strong force of the police and Provincial Armed Constabulary has been deployed at Hapur to prevent further trouble. According to Meerut range deputy inspector general of police, Gurudarshan Singh, who rushed to Hapur, ‘‘The trouble started when Ashok Garg, a dairy owner, was shot dead by three men on a motorcycle near his Railway road dairy, at about 10.30 a.m. Tuesday.’’

 

According to Singh there ‘‘had been several crimes in Hapur in about a week. And, the police had been both lax and unable to solve the crimes. So, we have suspended the inspector incharge. And, renewed efforts are on to prevent further incidents and solve earlier ones.’’

 

Singh said that, on hearing of the murder, hundreds of traders gathered at the police station and the Hapur Chaupla, and shouted slogans against the police. None of the rioters had been arrested until this report was filed, on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the district magistrate has requested the state authorities to post a district police chief in Ghaziabad, soon. The position remains unfilled since the outgoing police chief, Chandra Prakash, was transferred last week.