A 19-year-old biker was today killed and another injured when police opened fire during an attempt to stop a large group of youths from performing dangerous stunts in the high-security area of national capital in the wee hours.
Police claimed that the group of about 150 bikers turned violent when they were asked to stop their stunts and started pelting stones between 2.00 AM and 2.15 AM in the New Delhi district, injuring some policemen following which the cops fired in the air but it had no effect on the youths.
Karan Pandey was killed when a bullet fired by the police in an attempt to puncture the tyre of the bike he was riding hit him in his back, they said, adding rider Punit Sharma was injured. Police claimed that he tested positive for alcohol.
According to the police, a group of bikers were involved in a confrontation with police officials who were trying to stop them from performing dangerous stunts on the roads.
"A PCR call was received that 30-35 bikers were performing stunts opposite Gol Dak Khana. When PCR reached Windsor Palace, opposite Le Meridian hotel they found that more than 150 bikers were performing stunts," said Rajan Bhagat, Public Relation Officer, Delhi police.
When the police tried to stop them they started pelting stones. During which the PCR van was damaged and some policemen were injured, he said.
"To control them, police fired to puncture the tyre which hit a pillion rider Karan Pandey who later expired in the hospital. Rider Punit Sharma tested positive for alcohol in blood during medical test," Bhagat said.
Pandey was riding pillion on Punit's bike, said a senior police officer. Both of them were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where Pandey was declared dead.
Sharma was treated for injuries and he is out of danger now, doctors said.
Although police claimed that the killing was an "accident", family members of the youth and others questioned whether cops could have mployed other options.
"Police should not have fired. These were young children. Children do mistakes, but it gives no right to police to claim someone's life," said Kusumlata, mother of Punit who was injured in the incident.
Cops have also released CCTV footage of the streets of New Delhi area showing several bikers performing stunts late night.
In an effort to curb youths from performing risky motorcycle stunts around India Gate, Delhi Police had carried out a late night checking drive in this area, slapping fines on 84 motorcycle riders and impounding eight bikes early this month.
The crackdown came after a number of incidents were reported in which stunt junkies either lost their lives or injured others. Even a police constable was seriously injured in a similar incident recently.
