NHRC notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh over reports of fake encounter in NOIDA on 3rd February, 2018 (05.02.2018)

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 5th February, 2018
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a 25 years old man was shot in NOIDA by Sub-Inspector, SI of Uttar Pradesh police in the night of the 3rd February, 2018 telling his colleague that the encounter would earn him an out of turn promotion. However, reportedly, the NOIDA police denied receiving any message of an encounter.

The Commission has observed that it seems that the police personnel in the State of Uttar Pradesh are feeling free, misusing their power in the light of an undeclared endorsement given by the higher ups. They are using their privileges to settle scores with the people. The police force is to protect the people, these kind of incidents would send a wrong message to the society. Creating an atmosphere of fear is not the correct way to deal with the crime. In this particular case, the injured man is not an offender. He was travelling with his friends when the rowdy act done by the delinquent SI has gravely violated his right to life and liberty.

Accordingly, the Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh to look into the emerging scenario, personally and to take appropriate action to sensitize the police personnel not to abuse their power to harass the innocent citizens. A detailed report in the matter from both of them is expected within six weeks, positively.

The Commission noted that it has already expressed concern while taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the 22nd November, 2017 about the Government of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly, endorsing killings encounters by police seeking improvement in law and order situation. The Chief Minister was quoted, in a newspaper on the 19th November, 2017, saying that "Criminals will be jailed or killed in encounters."

The Commission has further observed that the reported incidents indicates that the policeman acted in unruly manner having no fear or respect for the law. This is one of the incidents in sequence of several police encounters occurred in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
According to the media reports, carried today on the 5th February, 2018, the eye witnesses have told that the victim, a gym trainer was bundled into the back seat of his Scorpio vehicle by the SI pulled out his service revolver and fired at his throat in cold blood. The SI and another policeman, drove away the vehicle with the bleeding victim. They reached the Fortis Hospital in Sector-62 of Noida after 90 minutes of the incident while the hospital is barely 7 km from the shooting scene. One of the friends of the victim has reportedly stated that after the shooting, the SI called someone on his cell phone saying that an encounter has taken place and remarked to his colleague.

The witnesses have told that they had stopped for a pizza while on the way to drop their friends after attending an engagement function. The victim was driving SUV, when the SI and other cops drove up in a police vehicle. The accused SI was in plain clothes. The police team started thrashing the victim and his friends, without any reason. The SI asked the victim to leave the steering and started driving his vehicle. The victim protested and the angered SI took out a revolver, loaded it and shot at him from pointblank range.

The incident came into notice of the police only when the people, who were with the victim, reported the matter at Parthala police post. It is mentioned in the news reports that the SSP, Noida has informed during a Press Conference that victim's brother, who was also present during the shooting and the SI were known to each other. The bracelet and gold chain of the victim are also missing for which a case of attempt to murder and robbery has been filed against the accused Sub-Inspector, who has been sent to judicial custody. Three other police personnel have been suspended and their role is being investigated into by the police.

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