New Delhi (Agency): The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on July 14 to consider pleas for an independent investigation into the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad. The pleas, including one filed by Ahmad’s sister, seek the establishment of a commission chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe their “custodial” and “extra-judicial deaths.” Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, informed the bench about the submission of a status report in compliance with the court’s April 28 order. The order pertains to a plea by advocate Vishal Tiwari, who sought an independent inquiry into Ahmad’s killing and the killing of his brother. Ahmad and his brother, Ashraf, were shot dead by three men posing as journalists during a media interaction while being escorted by the police to a medical college in Prayagraj on April 15.
The bench indicated that it is focusing on the systemic issue rather than individual incidents. Tiwari, who also requested an inquiry into the “183 police encounters” that have occurred in Uttar Pradesh since 2017, claimed that the state’s status report suppressed material facts. A separate petition filed by Ahmad’s sister was also mentioned during the hearing. The court decided to hear all these matters on July 14.
In its status report submitted to the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government assured a thorough, impartial, and timely investigation into the deaths of Ahmad and Ashraf. The report stated that the state is investigating security lapses that may have allowed the attackers to breach the police cordon and carry out the shooting. The report also mentioned the suspension of four police officers and the SHO of PS Shahganj pending disciplinary proceedings. The state’s response covered the inquiry into the April 15 incident, as well as the deaths of Mohd Asad Khan and Mohd Ghulam on April 13, along with the implementation of recommendations from the Justice B S Chauhan Commission of Inquiry report. The report highlighted the progress made in police reforms, including the separation of law and order and investigation wings of the state police, manpower reform, and modernization efforts.
The deaths of gangster Vikas Dubey and his associates in a police retaliatory firing incident in 2020 were also mentioned in the report. The commission headed by Justice Chauhan had concluded that the police version of the encounter killings could not be doubted. The status report emphasized the actions taken to improve the police department, including the creation of new posts, modernization, and the establishment of forensic science labs in various cities. The report also mentioned the ongoing investigation into the deaths of Mohd Asad Khan and Mohd Ghulam in Jhansi on April 13, which occurred during police retaliatory firing.
During an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the Uttar Pradesh government about the public display of Ahmad and Ashraf being taken to a hospital in police custody. The state informed the court that a three-member commission of inquiry had been constituted to investigate the incident, and a special investigation team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police was also investigating the case.
