'Why Were They Not Taken To Hospital Directly?' SC Seeks Report From UP On Atiq, Ashraf Killings

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition seeking formation of an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former SC judge to inquire into the killing of the gangster.

Atiq Ahmed was a former member of Parliament from Phulpur constituency

Source : PTI

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 Ahmad and his brother in Prayagraj. A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Dipankar Datta also report on the police encounter of Atiq Ahmad's son Asad.

The top court was hearing a petition seeking formation of an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former SC judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and his brother Ashraf amid police presence.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the Uttar Pradesh government why the vehicle carrying Atiq and his brother Ashraf was not taken to the hospital directly. The Uttar Pradesh government told the court that they have appointed a commission to look into the matter.

The SC posted the matter for hearing next after three weeks.

Atiq Ahmed was a former member of Parliament from Phulpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh. He had more than 90 criminal cases against him, including murder, kidnapping and extortion.

Atiq and Ashraf, accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, were shot dead on April 15 by three men posing as journalists while they were being escorted by police personnel to a hospital for a checkup.

Atiq's son, Asad, who was also named in the Umesh Pal murder case, was gunned down in a police encounter on April 13.

The plea, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, has also sought an inquiry into the 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2017.

Earlier thie month, Uttar Pradesh Police said that it had gunned down 183 alleged criminals in encounters in the six years of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government, including Ahmad's son Asad and his aide.

The petition, referring to Atiq's killing, said "such actions by police are a severe threat to democracy and rule of law and lead to a police state".

"In a democratic society, the police cannot be allowed to become a mode of delivering final justice or to become a punishing authority. The power of punishment is only vested in the judiciary," the plea said.

When the police turn "daredevils then the entire rule of law collapses and generates fear in the mind of people against the police which is very dangerous for democracy and this also results in more crimes," the plea further stated.

(With inputs from PTI)