New Delhi, August 10, 2009
The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Uttar Pradesh Government pay three lakh rupees monetary relief each to the next of kin of Ram Shankar and Prabhat Singh killed in a fake police encounter on 2nd September, 2003. The Commission has also asked the State Government to submit compliance report with proof of payment within eight weeks. The Commission considered this case on two complaints, alleging fake encounter, filed on 12th September, 2003 and 9th March, 2004 by Mr. K.N. Srivastava and Mr. Bhansidhar Sahu respectively. On consideration of the reports, the Commission found that Ram Shankar, son of a poor farmer Bhansidhar Sahu and Prabhat Singh, son of a retired teacher Lallan Prasad hailed from Meral village of District Gadwha, Jharkhand. They were going to Beejpur by train. The police picked them when they alighted at Railway Station, Jharokas to take some refreshment. They were taken to the forest within the jurisdiction of Police Post Mayorpur and killed them in a fake encounter. The police had claimed that they were in search of criminals involved in robbery of a bus on 1st September, 2003 and in this connection had gone to Rantola jungle on 2nd September, 2003. They overheard conversation among some persons hiding in the Khadpattar Nallah. The police said that they were convinced that the persons hiding in the Nallah were involved in the robbery as when asked to surrender, they started firing at them and in self defence they had to return fire.
However, State Crime Branch's, Criminal Investigation Department, CB CID found that the police story of encounter was not correct. A criminal case was also registered against the delinquent police personnel at Police Station Pipri, District Sonebhadra. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh Government in response to Commission's Show Cause Notice conceded in letter dated 13th May, 2008 that the slain boys' next of kin were entitled to monetary relief.
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