Protest, collapse and demands for ‘encounter’ as body is kept on road
Meerut witnessed a tense stand-off on Saturday after 22-year-old Nitin was shot dead in broad daylight near Hastinapur police station, according to Bhaskar English. Family members placed the youth’s body on the road at Ganeshpur Tiraha and staged a sit-in demanding immediate action against the accused.
Bhaskar English reported the incident occurred on Friday when six attackers on two motorcycles opened fire at Nitin about 200 metres from the police station. He was shot in the leg, collapsed and died after losing a large amount of blood. The report said he had been married for four months and was the family’s only son.
The youth’s father fainted on seeing the body and had to be attended to, while the mother was described as inconsolable. When police arrived to take the body into custody, the family refused to hand it over and maintained the protest through the night. From 7 a.m. on Saturday, about 500 people joined the family in blocking the road, chanting slogans against the police and administration.
“We will not leave this place until bulldozers are used at the accused's homes and they are killed in a police encounter,” the family and supporters declared, according to the report.
Bhaskar English said Hastinapur MLA and Minister of State Dinesh Khatik reached the spot and tried to pacify the family, assuring strict action would follow. The report adds that police subsequently began demolishing one of the accused’s houses with a bulldozer. Officers from five police stations, including Rural SP Abhijeet Kumar, were present at the scene.
- Victim: Nitin, 22, resident of Maan Nagar village (Bahsuma police station area).
- Incident: Shot by six attackers on two motorcycles; hit in the leg and died from blood loss.
- Public response: Family and around 500 people blocked Ganeshpur Tiraha from 7 a.m.; body placed on road.
- Official action: Minister of State Dinesh Khatik attended; police demolished one accused’s house; officers from five police stations at the spot.
Local impact and immediate consequences
The sit-in and public calls for an encounter place the administration in a sensitive position. Demolishing a suspect’s house at the protest site reflects a rapid law-and-order response aimed at calming the crowd, but such measures can fuel further tensions if due process concerns are raised. The presence of multiple police units and a senior political representative underlines the urgency the local administration has attached to the case.
The young man’s family has refused to perform last rites until they see punitive action; their demand for an encounter killing raises questions about expectations of extra-judicial measures in the aftermath of violent crime. The report did not provide details on arrests, FIR registration, or the identities of the accused; nor did it quote police on the progress of the investigation. Bhaskar English noted that Nitin had been preparing for the Delhi Police recruitment examination, but further details on motive or antecedents were not available in the account.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Friday | Shooting near Hastinapur police station; Nitin died after sustaining gunshot wounds. |
| Night (Friday) | Family refused to hand over the body; sit-in began. |
| Saturday, from 7 a.m. | Around 500 people joined; Ganeshpur Tiraha blocked; MLA Dinesh Khatik arrived; bulldozer used to demolish one accused's house. |
Residents and civic observers in Meerut will watch for formal updates from the police about arrests, FIR particulars and forensic findings. The handling of the protest and the subsequent demolition will also be closely scrutinised for adherence to legal procedures by both the administration and law-enforcement agencies.
The facts reported by Bhaskar English form the basis of this account; police statements and further investigative details are awaited to provide a fuller record of the incident and subsequent action.
