Atiq Ahmed Murder: NHRC takes cognizance; seeks reports from UP DGP and Prayagraj Police Commissioner

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took cognizance of complaints concerning the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed by miscreants while the two were in police custody in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh..The NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh and the Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj calling for the following reports within four weeks:- detailed report, covering all the aspects leading to death (including time, place and reason for arrest/detention);- copy of complaint and FIR registered against the deceased; (iii) copy of arrest memo and inspection memo; - whether information of arrest was given to family/relatives?; - copy of seizure memo and recovery memo; - copy of medical legal certificate of the deceased; - copies of all relevant GD extracts (all must be legible and transcribed in English/Hindi); - Inquest Report; - Post Mortem Report (typed copy of PMR especially description of injuries must be provided);- video cassette/CD of post mortem examination;- site plan of scene of occurrence giving all the details; - chemical & histopathology examination of viscera (if applicable); - final cause of death based on FSL report; and- magisterial enquiry report (u/s 176(1-A) Cr.PC as amended by Act 25 of 2005..On the evening of April 15, the two brothers were shot dead at point-blank range by three assailants posing as TV reporters.The deceased were being escorted to a hospital in Prayagraj for a mandatory medical examination when the incident happened.The assailants surrendered and were remanded to judicial custody for fourteen days by the Allahabad District Court on April 16. This incident occurred two days after Ahmed's on Asad and aide Gulam, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi.Interestingly, eighteen days prior to his death, Atiq had requested the Supreme Court to grant protection to him and his family members accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, and also challenged his transfer from Sabarmati jail to Allahabad jail for the investigation of the same case.Atiq had expressed concerns before the Supreme Court that he would be killed by the Uttar Pradesh police in a fake encounter. However, the Supreme Court dismissed Atiq's plea, stating that he was safe with the police. A plea has now been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a probe by a judicial committee headed by a retired judge of the apex court into the murder.The Court is set to hear the matter on April 24..The Uttar Pradesh government has already set up a judicial commission to inquire into the matter under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1952 to be led by retired Allahabad High Court Judge Arvind Kumar Tripathi.