Protesters talk to district magistrate Santosh Kumar Mall (in blue shirt) and senior superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar on Friday. Picture by Prakash Kumar

Muzaffarpur, Aug. 5: One Mohammad Shamsuddin alias Gujju Mian (50) succumbed to injuries after a group of policemen of Town and Mithanpura police stations allegedly assaulted him on the campus of Dharam Samaj Sanskrit College, today. The death of Shamsuddin led to protests and commotion.

An irate mob protesting the death, set a motorbike of a police officer of Mithanpura police station, on fire. Police said Shamsuddin, a tailor, was stitching clothes at his makeshift shop beside the main gate of the college.

Some policemen were having an altercation with two youths Mohammad Mohsin and Mohammad Chunnu on the college campus.

Shamsuddin tried to rescue the youths from the police and fell victim to police brutality. Shamsuddin suffered head injuries and died on the spot. The local people of Rambagh chased the cops but they managed to flee the spot.

The mob smashed windowpanes of the college to vent their anger. The principal and teachers of the college left the campus in a huff apprehending problems. Inspector Arun Paswan of Mithanpura police station had to face the wrath of the mob, particularly women. The women slapped him in full view of the public.

District magistrate (DM) Santosh Kumar Mall accompanied by the senior superintendent of police, Rajesh Kumar, rushed to the spot with reinforcement but they struggled to control the mob demanding action against the erring cops. Thereafter, the zonal inspector-general of police, Gupteshwar Pandey and the deputy inspector-general of police, Bacchu Singh Meena also arrived there to take stock of the situation. The mob laid the body of Shamshuddin outside the main gate of the college and condemned police atrocities. They demanded adequate compensation and a job for the next of kin of the deceased.

Pandey announced that probationary sub-inspector (PSI) Sailendra Kumar Singh of Town police station would be dismissed from police service. A named FIR would be lodged against Sailendra and the erring cops, who were with the police team. He added that a speedy trial would be conducted for those found guilty.

Mall provided Rs 10,000 to conduct the funeral and other expenses. Following pressure from the people, the DM has recommended a compensation demand of Rs 5 lakh from the state government. The DM said he has requested the home secretary, Amir Subhani, to provide compensation as the deceased hailed from a below poverty line family.

Meanwhile, Meena asked the Town police inspector to take Sailendra and other police officers, who were with him into police custody immediately. The Mithanpura police instituted a named FIR against Sailendra and others who were allegedly involved behind the killing of Shamshuddin.