NHRC notice to UP govt, police over Noida ‘encounter’

‘Sensitise police force about not abusing their power’

Jitendra Yadav

Two days after a sub-inspector shot at a man in Noida in an alleged fake encounter, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and police.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident that occurred on February 3, the NHRC asked the Chief Secretary of UP government and the Director-General of Police of UP to look into the case and sensitise the police force about not abusing their power. The NHRC asked the officials to submit reports within six weeks.

For promotion

According to reports, the sub-inspector had told a colleague that the “encounter” would help him get an out-of-turn promotion. He had shot at 25-year-old gym instructor Jitendra Yadav and his friends, who were travelling in an SUV after attending an event in Noida.

“The Commission has observed that it seems that the police personnel in UP 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,” an NHRC statement read.

The NHRC had on November 22, 2017, expressed concern about the UP government allegedly endorsing encounter killings after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was quoted in a newspaper on November 19 saying that criminals would be jailed or killed in encounters.

“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,” the NHRC observed, adding that the sub-inspector had violated the man’s right to life and liberty.