A shocking case from Kaushambi reveals allegations of police brutality and a staged encounter
KAUSHAMBI — A disturbing case of alleged police excess has come to light in Kaushambi district in Uttar Pradesh, where a Muslim family has accused local police of staging a fake encounter and covering up custodial torture and abuse. The family claims that Saddam, a resident of Fakirabad under Sarai Akil police station, was shot in the leg after being detained, while his younger brother Alishan remains missing.
The allegations surfaced after a fresh video went viral on social media, showing the family of the victims accusing police of foul play.
Ishida, the village head (gram pradhan) and daughter-in-law of the family, accused Kaushambi police of targeting her husband Saddam and brother-in-law Alishan after a local quarrel spiralled out of control.
“Police took away both my husband and my brother-in-law. Later, they showed Saddam’s arrest in an encounter and shot him in the leg. But where is Alishan? We fear they will kill him too,” media reports quoted her as saying on Saturday.
Breaking down, Ishida added: “Saddam is not a criminal. He only went to question the men who had beaten his father. Instead of giving us justice, police turned my husband into a target.”
The dispute began when Ishida’s father-in-law, Moin Ahmad, went to Sarai Akil market to buy household items. There, he was assaulted by two or three men who were allegedly intoxicated. The assault left him badly injured.
When news reached Saddam and Alishan, they rushed to the spot and confronted the attackers. The confrontation escalated into a scuffle, and both brothers were taken away by police.
According to the family, what followed shocked them. Saddam was later shown by police as arrested after an “encounter”, with a bullet injury in his leg. Alishan, however, has vanished without explanation.
Moin Ahmad, the elderly father, also appeared in the viral video, his face bloodied from the earlier beating. He accused police of conspiring to paint his sons as criminals. “I was attacked first. My sons only came to rescue me. But police have twisted the story, spread videos against us, and now one of my sons is missing,” he said.
The family has appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene. “If anything happens to my brother-in-law Alishan, the entire responsibility will be on Kaushambi police,” Ishida declared.
The case has deepened suspicions of “encounter culture” in Uttar Pradesh, where police have been accused of staging gunfights to justify arrests or custodial killings, particularly targeting Muslims and Dalits.
Local residents have also begun questioning the fairness of the police. “This looks like an attempt to silence the victims instead of punishing the real culprits,” said one villager who requested anonymity.
As the video spreads widely on social media, pressure is mounting on Kaushambi police to explain Alishan’s disappearance and the circumstances of Saddam’s shooting. Rights activists have demanded an independent probe, saying the case reflects a larger pattern of misuse of power.
For now, the family remains in fear. “We only want justice. Stop treating innocent Muslims as criminals. We want our son back alive,” pleaded Ishida, as the community waits anxiously for answers.
