Protesters demand CBI probe into Sardhana encounter
FAKE Irshad’s kin denounced the encounter as fake and demanded registration of a murder case against the cops who were allegedly involved in the matter
MEERUT: Hundreds of people, including supporters of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), staged a demonstration at the collectorate here on Saturday afternoon in protest against the killing of a 21-year-old youth Irshad Ahmad in an alleged encounter with the police in Sardhana area of Meerut on November 27 morning. The protesters demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Irshad’s family members and relatives also joined the protest, denouncing the encounter as fake. All of them demanded registration of a murder case against the police personnel who were allegedly involved in the encounter, their immediate suspension, an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family and government job to a family member.
Irshad’s father Dilshad, a farmer, and his cousin Salman said the family will continue their fight for justice. They appealed people to support them.
Irshad Ahmad was a resident of Nangla village under Ratanpuri police station in the neighbouring Muzaffarnagar district.
Mohd Kamil, the SDPI state president, alleged the Meerut police killed Irshad in a fake encounter. He claimed Irshad was a labourer at a brick kiln and had no involvement in animal trading.
Irshad was initially accused of being a cattle smuggler, according to the police.
But SP (rural) Rajesh Kumar had later admitted that Irshad had no criminal record but reiterated that he was in the vehicle with his aides and opened fire on the police. “He sustained bullet injury in cross-firing and died on the spot. His family members have every right to raise their grievances,” Kumar had said.
For his part, Kamil alleged the police picked up Irshad on the night of November 25 and killed him in an encounter later.
The Saturday’s protest was staged a day after a ‘sarvasamaj panchayat’ on Friday declared the encounter fake and demanded an inquiry into the case.
Meanwhile, Hindutva organisations have come out in support of the police in connection with the encounter.
A delegation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, led by VHP leader Gopal Sharma met Meerut district magistrate Anil Dheengra and senior superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar. The VHP-Bajrang Dal delegation handed over their letter in which they justified the encounter and described Irshad as a cattle smuggler.
Similarly, a delegation of the Hindu Yuva Vahini led by Anoop Rastogi and Ankit Sharma gave a memorandum to the offices of the inspector general of police and the SSP. In the memorandum, they supported the police action against alleged cow smugglers.
The National Human Rights Commission has already issued a notice to state government and the director general of police, asking them to provide details of the encounter in four weeks.