Dismissing Delhi Police's claim that constable Subhash Chand Tomar died after being assaulted by the anti-rape protesters, an eyewitness identified as Yogendra said that Tomar was not beaten down by the protesters but had collapsed while walking.
"I was surprised to hear that 8 were arrested over Subhash Tomar's death. I saw him in hospital and his body didn't have any injuries" CNN-IBN quoted Yogendra as saying. "He wasn't trampled by a mob, he wasn't assaulted. He just collapsed while walking. I don't think people should be arrested over this," he added.
Taking a dig at the police, Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Yogendra, a journo student, eyewitness to Tomar's death. His account opp of police account. Is police lying?"
The Delhi police had arrested eight people on Monday, including a worker of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and booked them for rioting and attempt to murder in connection with Tomar's injury.
Reports say, Tomar, who was deployed at India Gate on Sunday to control the protest against the gruesome gang rape of a para-medical student on December 16, was allegedly beaten up by the protesters and was found injured on Tilak Marg. He was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was kept on the ventilator for two days. He later succumbed to injuries and was laid to rest on Tuesday with state honours. The police claimed that Tomar had injuries on the abdomen, neck and chest.
Meanwhile, constable Subash Tomar's family blamed the protesters for his death. Tomar's son, Deepak, accused the mob saying, "No leader has come to there (hospital) to see him. Public is responsible for this because they beat him so badly. Can they return my father back?" CNN-IBN quoted him as saying.
