'Aligarh encounter fake, victims were picked up from homes earlier, media called to watch it'

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

LUCKNOW: Questioning the claims of police in Aligarh encounter, Rihai Manch has raised several points that contradict police statement and has asked the director general of police (DGP) to order an inquiry.

"The public relations officer called up media persons at 6.36 am and later again at 6.59, taking them to watch the encounter. Further, a clip that has come in public domain, shows that policemen are told not look here and there, as the video was being made", writes Rihai manch chairman Advocate Shoaib Mohammad, in the letter to DGP.

The two persons--Naushad and Mustqeem were allegedly killed in encounter though the deceased' kin allege that they were picked up from their homes on Sunday. The Rihai Manch has asked whether there is a provision to call media persons to watch an encounter.

"While the police claim that encounter continued for long and finally the two were gunned down, the footage shows that the police team was at the same spot for long and only one or two persons occasionally fired. It hardly looked like an encounter. Rather, it appeared to be a drill".

The Rihai Manch has questioned that when deceased' kin claim that they were taken away on September 16 and their identity cards were also taken by police, how they 'escaped' from police custody. "Was it just for staging the encounter?".

"The deceased' kin have also said that the policemen forced them to put their thumb impression on papers, forcibly. Does police have the right to kill a person who is wanted? How come the police repeatedly term them as 'criminals'?"

The Rihai Manch has said that SSP Ajay Sahni was posted in Azamgarh when there were five incidents of people killed or hurt in 'encounters'. It says that this is an extension of state-sponsored encounter politics.

Advocate Shoaib Mohammad and Rihai manch general secretary Rajiv Yadav have written the letter to DGP, sending its copies to Chief Justice of India, Principal Secretary (Govt of UP), NHRC and UP State Human Rights Commission.