Gaya, Jan. 23: The security forces killed an innocent person out of confusion on December 23 last year during a raid at Naudiha village following a tip-off on the presence of a CPI(Maoist) area commander in the hamlet.

Magadh range deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police Nayyer Hasnain Khan reportedly gave a clean chit to the victim, Pancham Paswan, after conducting a probe into the incident following a directive from the Bihar State Human Rights Commission. He tabled his report before the panel last week, paving the way for compensation to the victim’s family.

Although the victim’s father, Ramdeep Paswan, has criminal antecedents and was jailed on a couple of occasions, no criminal history of Pancham (25) could be ascertained during the inquiry.

The DIG confirmed that he had submitted the report.

Terming the incident unfortunate in his report, the DIG has reportedly recommended relief to Pancham’s dependents. Sources said Khan issued a written directive to Gaya senior superintendent of police Vinay Kumar to take up the matter with the Gaya district magistrate and ensure relief to the family.

According to the report of the DIG, Pancham worked as a salesman at Lakshmi hardware in Chennai. The sole breadwinner of his family, including his wife, a two-month-old daughter and elderly parents, Pancham’s daily remuneration was Rs 300. He had returned to his native village barely a fortnight before the fateful incident.

When the security forces, including Special Task Force personnel, raided Naudiha village under Atri police station on December 23 night, Pancham fired in the air from the courtyard of his house from a country-made gun. He fired once more coming out his house.

Sources said the security personnel retaliated assuming Pancham was a Naxalite because they had raided the village, around 100km south of Patna, following a tip-off on the presence a CPI(Maoist) area commander, Vidhayak Yadav, there.

The DIG reportedly ruled out prejudice behind the encounter citing that the team of security forces had conducted the raid after getting information that Yadav was staying in the village.

Khan reportedly booked the victim under sections 25 and 27 of Arms Act in his report for possessing illegal firearm and opening fire. Section 353 of the IPC has also been imposed on Pancham for hindering government work.