Vigilance probe ordered, cops transferred for Sat'day shooting

Delhi Police today initiated a separate vigilance inquiry in connection with the gunning down of Manoj Vashishth and decided to transfer personnel involved in the alleged encounter on Saturday night.
The investigation is separate from the SIT and magisterial enquiries already underway in this case.
The decision was taken after Vashishth's widow Priyanka and other family member, who are alleging that he was killed in a fake encounter, met Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi and demanded a fair probe in the case.
Vashishth's family met the Police Commissioner at his office at Police Headquarters here this morning and shared their grievances. Bassi sympathised with them and assured them of an impartial investigation in the case, officials said.

"On family's demand that the team's members should be transferred so that they cannot affect probe, some key members of the team which had carried out the operation in which Vashishth was gunned down have been transferred. Mr Bassi has also ordered a vigilance enquiry in the case," said Delhi Police Spokesperson Rajan Bhagat.
He, however, did not give details about the policemen who have been transfererd.

Vashishth, who was wanted in several cases of fraud and other crimes, was hit by a bullet in the gun-fight with an eight-member team of Special Cell of Delhi Police on Saturday. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

CCTV footage of the encounter which was released by the police yesterday had showed two policemen getting into a scuffle with Manoj Vashishth before he slumps after being shot.
The poor quality of the footage does not establish Delhi Police's claim that Vashishth had first fired shots and police retaliated.
The 29-second clip, which is quite grainy, shows two policemen in plain clothes walking up to Vashishth at 8:15 PM in Sagar Ratna restaurant in New Rajender Nagar area. Vashishth is seen sitting in the middle of the restaurant with several people.
As soon as Vashishth sees the police, a scuffle breaks out and the policemen are seen trying to pin him down.

Although due to the poor quality of the footage, firing of shots could not be seen or heard, Vashishth is seen collapsing on the ground while other guests of the restaurant try to flee.
Meanwhile, a preliminary post-mortem report of Vashishth revealed that he died of the bullet which hit him in the head.
Police had claimed that seeing him firing shots from his licenced revolver, a constable had fired on him in a bid to incapacitate him which led to his death.