Already under fire for torturing a minor Dalit girl, the state police found itself in the dock once again as a man accused a constable and a Home Guard of shooting and robbing him.

The victim, Arun Kumar Mishra, is in the intensive care unit of Kanpur’s Madhuraj Nursing Home. Two bullets are still lodged in his left thigh, a third had passed through his right forearm, said a doctor.

According to Mishra’s complaint, Constable Anil Kumar Yadav and Home Guard Rajesh Kumar Dhanuk, posted at the Sikandra police station of Kanpur Dehat, had shot him on Wednesday night. They also took away his wristwatch and Rs 5,500 that he was carrying.

The incident had occurred as he was returning from Sikandra on a motorcycle along with friends Shri Krishan and Chakaudi Lal. The policemen had stopped them near Amauli Kumia village check post.

“I slowed down, but before I could stop the vehicle, they opened fire,” he said. Khacchu and Chakaudi Lal managed to run, but Mishra was injured.

R K Swarnkar, Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Dehat, said: “Though a case has been registered against the policemen and we have started investigation, the incident seems mysterious.”

According to preliminary investigations, it appears that Mishra made an attempt to escape the police checking, following which the bullets were fired, but it was yet to be confirmed.

Swarnkar said when their duty was over, Yadav and Dhanuk had deposited their rifles in the police station. “The dust and dirt on the muzzle of both rifles indicate that no bullet had been fired from them,” he said, “also, the policemen made no effort to escape”.