Mathura clashes: Five policemen suspended for deserting SP

Five police personnel, who were accompanying SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi during the evacuation of encroachers from Jawahar Bagh here, have been suspended for allegedly fleeing from the scene of violence in which the top cop was killed.

Gunner Bhupendra Singh and constables Kaushlendra, Ram Singh, Lalta Prasad and Pradeep Kumar have been suspended with immediate effect after prima facie being found guilty in the departmental inquiry of deserting Dwivedi, Senior Superintendent of Police Babloo Kumar said.

According to the inquiry, if the security personnel had faced the attackers, not only could have the SP's life been saved but the situation could have been prevented from assuming such ghastly proportions as reinforcements were on their way, he said. Appropriate action will taken after the submission of the final report, Babloo said.

Dwivedi and Farah Police Station Officer Santosh Yadav were among the 29 people who died last month during the anti-encroachment drive against the followers of Ram Vriksha Yadav who had occupied Jawahar Bagh in support of their bizarre demands.