New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the steps taken after the killing of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj. A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Dipankar Datta also sought a report from the UP government on the police encounter of Ahmed’s son Asad in Jhansi.
Asad was killed in an encounter by a Special Task Force (ST) team of the UP Police on 13 April. Two days later, Ahmed and Ashraf were shot dead by three men posing as media persons while they were being transported. At a medical college in Prayagraj for health check-up under police protection.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has sought a probe into 183 encounters in Uttar Pradesh since 2017. During the hearing, the apex court also asked the Uttar Pradesh government that why the vehicle? The mafia was taking the brothers – Atiq and Ashraf – not directly to the hospital.
The Supreme Court asked the Uttar Pradesh government why the vehicle carrying the mafia brothers Atiq and Ashraf was not taken directly to the hospital. The Uttar Pradesh government told the court that they have appointed a commission to look into the matter. – ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023
Responding to this, the counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government told the court that they have appointed a commission to look into the matter.
The Supreme Court then said it would hear after three weeks a plea seeking setting up of an independent expert committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge to probe the murder of mafia brothers Atiq and Ashraf in the presence of the police.
Earlier this month, the Uttar Pradesh police claimed that it had killed 183 alleged criminals in encounters in the six years of the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, including Ahmed’s son Asad and his aide.
Referring to the killing of Atiq, the petition said, “Such acts of the UP police pose a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law and lead to a police state.” The plea states, “In a democratic society, the police cannot be allowed to be the ultimate justice or to become a punishing institution. The power to punish is vested only in the judiciary.”
AtiqAhmed-Ashraf Killing In Prayagraj
Former MP and five-time MLA from Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh Atiq Ahmed and his gangster brother Ashraf were shot dead on April 15 by three men posing as journalists while they were being taken to a hospital by police personnel . for checkup.
Atiq had over 100 criminal cases registered against him including murder, kidnapping and extortion. Atiq and Ashraf were accused in the sensational murder of Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 MLA Raju Pal murder case.
Asad, son of Atiq, named in the Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in a police encounter on 13 April.