Uttar Pradesh Police have admitted to opening fire during protests that erupted last week after the agitation against the Indian Citizenship Act turned violent.
Fifteen people died during the protests, many after suffering bullet wounds, reports NDTV.
However, the police had so far maintained that they had not fired a single shot at protesters anywhere.
But now, the police in western Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor have told NDTV that of the two protestors killed in the town, one of them, was killed in police firing.
"When one of our constables moved ahead to take back the gun that was snatched, a member of the crowd opened fire at him. He had a narrow escape. In retaliatory, self-defence firing, his attackerwas shot at," Bijnor Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Tyagi told NDTV. "His friends had taken him away. His name is Suleman, and he died. One more protestor, Anis, died in firing from the crowd," the officer added.
The police officer's statements directly contradicted UP police chief's stance that no one had died because of police firing since the beginning of the protests last week.
Suleman's family said he was preparing for his civil services entrance exam and that he had nothing to do with the protests. They claim the police intimidated them.
The Indian Citizenship (Amendment), the Indian government said, will help minorities from three Muslim-dominated countries to get citizenship if they fled to India because of religious persecution. Critics said it is designed to discriminate against Muslims and violated the secular principles of the constitution.