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‘Suspicious’: Encounter of Atiq Ahmed’s Son Comes Under Criticism

S.R. Darapuri, former Inspector General Police (IGP) of Uttar Pradesh, said that as per Supreme Court directives, all encounters should be probed after filing a case against police officials. A magisterial inquiry is not fair. It has been found to be biased in favour of the police. Therefore, the CBI should probe the matter

Waquar Hasan | Clarion India

NEW DELHI — The encounter of Asad, son of a former member of parliament Atiq Ahmed, carried out by the Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday, has come under criticism from political leaders and a former IPS officer.

Asad and his associate, Ghulam, accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed by the Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on the day when Atiq Ahmed was produced in a Prayagraj court in the same case.

The police claimed that Asad and Ghulam opened fire on their team and they were killed in retaliation.  

S.R. Darapuri, former Inspector General Police (IGP) of Uttar Pradesh, told Clarion India that the track record of the Uttar Pradesh government with regard to encounters creates suspicion around Asad’s killing.

“Given that encounters are often carried out in Uttar Pradesh, this encounter also creates suspicion. The case which will be filed against the police in this encounter should be investigated by the CBI. The probe should not be conducted by the police themselves because the truth behind the encounter should come out,” said Darapuri, who is also a human rights defender.

He pointed out that he has a suspicion about this encounter because a large number of “encounters” have been carried out by the Uttar Pradesh government.    

Atiq, who is in jail for several years, faces many cases. He was convicted in a kidnapping case and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was a Samajwadi Party leader and five-time MLA from Allahabad West.

Darapuri said that as per Supreme Court directives, encounters should be probed after filing a case against police officials. A magisterial inquiry is not fair. It has been found to be biased in favour of the police. Therefore, the CBI should probe the matter, he said.

Reacting to Asad’s encounter, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the police action a “false encounter” and demanded a probe into the matter.

“The BJP wants to divert attention from the real issues by carrying out false encounters. The BJP supporters don’t have faith in the judiciary. Today’s and recent encounters should be thoroughly probed and the culprits should not be spared. The government does not have the right to decide between wrong and right. The BJP is against the brotherhood,” said Yadav, who often remains silent on Muslim issues.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised the encounter saying that the BJP government carries out encounters in the name of religion. They will not shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir in Haryana, he said.

“Tell us whether the BJP will shoot the people who killed Junaid and Nasir. Would you carry out an encounter against those who killed Junaid and Nasir? No, you will not do it. You will not do it because you carry out encounters by seeing the religion of the accused,” said Owaisi.

The Hyderabad MP said that this was not the encounter but a clear violation of the rule of law. “It is an encounter against the constitution. The rule of law is being weakened.

“Why is there a court? Why are there CrPC and IPC? Why is there public prosecution? Why is there a judge? Shut down the courts. What will judges do? There should be the supremacy of the rule of law. The court will decide. It is the duty of the court. Nab the accused and give him legal punishment,” he said. 

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