Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 15:31 IST

Dehradun, July 04: Controversy erupted on Saturday over the gunning down of an MBA qualified youth by Uttarakhand police after he allegedly fled with a sub-inspector's revolver while his family claimed that he was killed in a fake encounter.

The incident triggered protests from family and opposition Congress after which Chief Minister R P Nishank handed over the probe to CB-CID into the killing of 22-year-old Ranbir Singh from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Singh, who recently completed his MBA from Meerut University and was to join Kotak Mahindra tomorrow, was killed in an encounter in Ladpur jungles here with the police which was on high alert in view of President Pratibha Patel's visit and carried out strict checks of vehicles and persons.

Ranbir's father Ravinder Singh, however, claimed his son was innocent. "There is no criminal record against my son. He was killed in a fake encounter because police officials want medals," he told reporters.

SSP Dehradun, Amit Sinha, claimed Singh and two others were riding a bike stolen from Haryana when they were asked to stop by G D Bhatt, a sub-inspector, at Dalanwala.

When the police searched their bag, a weapon was found in it. However, the youths overpowered Bhatt, snatched his revolver and fled. When the SI flashed a message over the wireless, the three were intercepted at another place and there was an encounter in which Ranbir was killed, Sinha claimed.

Bureau Report