Lekha G
A Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking an independent inquiry by CBI or NIA into the recent alleged encounter killings in the Chitrakoot Jail of Uttar Pradesh.
The Plea has been filed by Advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi, alleging that CM Yogi Adityanath had promoted the culture of encounter killings, as he had openly said that “Apradhiyon ko Thok Diya Jayega”, which is against the basic tenets of fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Petition also sought direction for a probe into all the extra-judicial killings that occurred in Uttar Pradesh since March 18, 2017.
The Plea stated, “The police version of the three-killing happened on May 14, in the Chitrakoot Jail of Uttar Pradesh shows that one under trial Anshu Dixit from Sitapur lodged in Chitrakoot Jail opened fire and killed two others in the jail and was shot by police in retaliatory fire”.
It was further stated that life can be taken only through the “Procedure established by law” by following due processes through the judicial machinery prescribed in the Constitution. However, the encounters being done is outright violation of the laws.
The Plea added that it was astonishing to find that the two other inmates who were killed, namely, Merajuddin and Mukim Kala were transferred to the Chitrakoot Jail recently on March 20 and May 7 respectively as a part of larger design behind the shootout.
The Plea alleged that in a civilized and democratic country like India, history of violence should be remembered but not repeated but in Uttar Pradesh, a battle is being fought in its jails where the police, under the direct orders of the top of the administration were executing the prisoners on frivolous excuses.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath ordered a probe into the incident by a joint team of Divisional Commissioner D K Singh, Chitrakoot IG Satyanarain and DIG Sanjeev Tripathi.