Family members of those killed in alleged ‘encounter killings’ in Uttar Pradesh claimed they were being harassed by police after a petition on extra judicial killings in the State was filed in the Supreme Court by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
Brother of Sumit Gujjar, killed in an encounter in 2017, said up to eight cases under different sections such as dacoity, loot and others had been falsely slapped on him since the death of his brother and the same inspector involved in his brother’s case had been harassing him.
With her landlord coming under pressure from the police, Shabana, mother of Nushad, who had been killed in an encounter in Aligarh in September last year said she had been pushed out of her home in Atrauli, and was leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Mother of Mustaqueen, killed in the same encounter also appealed for justice.
Spokespersons of the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) said people from poor backgrounds were especially targeted in such encounters and that the police would shoot first and plant guns in their hands later.
Social activist Akram Akthar, also said several people injured in the encounters were languishing in jail without treatment. In a statement, the NCHRO, called it a conspiracy to have them killed.
The PUCL petition has called for a CBI probe into over 1,100 encounters which have taken place under the Yogi Adithyanath government.
In these 49 people had been killed and 370 injured. The court has fixed February 12 as the next date of hearing.
