NHRC calls for explanation from UP authorities on non-compliance of Commissions' guidelines in a case related to police encounter: sends notice to UP authorities on two other incidents of human rights violation
New Delhi September 17, 2007 The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of the three incidents of human rights violation concerning the state of UP.
The first incident was brought to the notice of the Commission through a press report which appeared in the "Hindustan Times" on September 12, 2007. The report referred to the killing of three Gujjar youths namely Praveen, Anit and Yadvendra of Nangli village of Saharanpur district in the State. According to police sources, the three youths reportedly barged into a liquor shop on Meerut-Hapur road and shot dead a salesman who resisted their attempt to loot the shop.
The Police version also said that the three were cornered inside a field by the villagers and the police and asked to surrender. They allegedly opened fire and fell prey to the bullets fired by the police in retaliation.
The press report also said that the villagers who came to know about the killings through local media charged the police for killing innocent youths in fake encounter. As per the crime records, no case was registered against Praveen, whereas Anit and Yadavendra had been booked in cases under mild charges.
The Commission after going through both the versions published in the media said that the incident raises a serious issue of violation of human rights. The Commission has directed that the press report be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Meerut to take appropriate action with regard to the investigation of the case, as per the guidelines laid down by NHRC.
The Commission also directed these authorities to send a copy of inquiry report, post-mortem report along with the report of an independent investigation into the matter. The authorities have also been asked to give an explanation as to why the intimation about the killing of these three youths in police encounter had not been sent to the Commission. The Commission has also directed that the District Magistrate, Meerut, should get a magisterial inquiry into the incident and submit a magisterial inquiry report to the Commission. The Commission has given eight weeks time for the submission of all the requisite reports.
The second case was brought to the notice of the Commission, through a press report, which appeared in the "Rashtriya Sahara" on September 12, 2007. As per the report, a Dalit youth who was returning from a hotel late at night, in Agra was intercepted by the constables of Balkeshwar post and was questioned by them.
The police however, did not believe the statements of the victim and apprehending him to be a criminal severely thrashed him with sticks. The report also said that the youth was forced to drink urine and subsequently challaned under section 109 Cr. P.C.
The Commission after going through the news, directed that the news report be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Agra for a factual report within four weeks.
The Commission took notice of another press clipping sent by Shri Mukesh Verma of Sipri Bazar, Jhansi, which said that a tempo driver, was thrown on the road by a policeman and publicly thrashed. As per the clipping, the tempo driver reportedly applied sudden brake, resulting in collision with a police vehicle, which infuriated the policeman. Shri Mukesh Verma also sent a photograph of the incident where a policeman was thrashing the tempo driver.
The Commission after going through the press report and the photograph said that the same may be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Jhansi, for a factual report within four weeks.
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The first incident was brought to the notice of the Commission through a press report which appeared in the "Hindustan Times" on September 12, 2007. The report referred to the killing of three Gujjar youths namely Praveen, Anit and Yadvendra of Nangli village of Saharanpur district in the State. According to police sources, the three youths reportedly barged into a liquor shop on Meerut-Hapur road and shot dead a salesman who resisted their attempt to loot the shop.
The Police version also said that the three were cornered inside a field by the villagers and the police and asked to surrender. They allegedly opened fire and fell prey to the bullets fired by the police in retaliation.
The press report also said that the villagers who came to know about the killings through local media charged the police for killing innocent youths in fake encounter. As per the crime records, no case was registered against Praveen, whereas Anit and Yadavendra had been booked in cases under mild charges.
The Commission after going through both the versions published in the media said that the incident raises a serious issue of violation of human rights. The Commission has directed that the press report be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Meerut to take appropriate action with regard to the investigation of the case, as per the guidelines laid down by NHRC.
The Commission also directed these authorities to send a copy of inquiry report, post-mortem report along with the report of an independent investigation into the matter. The authorities have also been asked to give an explanation as to why the intimation about the killing of these three youths in police encounter had not been sent to the Commission. The Commission has also directed that the District Magistrate, Meerut, should get a magisterial inquiry into the incident and submit a magisterial inquiry report to the Commission. The Commission has given eight weeks time for the submission of all the requisite reports.
The second case was brought to the notice of the Commission, through a press report, which appeared in the "Rashtriya Sahara" on September 12, 2007. As per the report, a Dalit youth who was returning from a hotel late at night, in Agra was intercepted by the constables of Balkeshwar post and was questioned by them.
The police however, did not believe the statements of the victim and apprehending him to be a criminal severely thrashed him with sticks. The report also said that the youth was forced to drink urine and subsequently challaned under section 109 Cr. P.C.
The Commission after going through the news, directed that the news report be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Agra for a factual report within four weeks.
The Commission took notice of another press clipping sent by Shri Mukesh Verma of Sipri Bazar, Jhansi, which said that a tempo driver, was thrown on the road by a policeman and publicly thrashed. As per the clipping, the tempo driver reportedly applied sudden brake, resulting in collision with a police vehicle, which infuriated the policeman. Shri Mukesh Verma also sent a photograph of the incident where a policeman was thrashing the tempo driver.
The Commission after going through the press report and the photograph said that the same may be forwarded to the DGP, UP and SSP, Jhansi, for a factual report within four weeks.
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