NHRC notice to UP govt, DGP over Noida sub-inspector case

The NHRC has sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state's police chief over reports that a man was allegedly shot at in Noida by a police staff, who told his colleague that the 'encounter' would earn him an "out-of-turn promotion".
"However, reportedly, Noida Police has denied receiving any message of an encounter," the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement today.
"The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that a 25-year-old man was shot at in Noida by a sub-inspector of Uttar Pradesh Police on the night of February 3, and told his colleague that the encounter would earn him an out-of-turn promotion," the NHRC said.

Accordingly, the commission has issued a notice to the chief secretary and the director general of police of the state to look into the emerging scenario personally and to take appropriate action to sensitise the police personnel not to "abuse their power to harass innocent citizens".
A detailed report in the matter from both of them is expected within six weeks, it said.
"Creating an atmosphere of fear is not the correct way to deal with the crime. In this particular case, the injured man is not an offender. He was travelling with his friends when the rowdy act done by the delinquent SI has gravely violated his right to life and liberty," the rights panel said.

The Commission noted that it has already expressed concern while taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the November 22, 2017 about the government of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly endorsing killings encounters by police, seeking improvement in law and order situation.

The NHRC said the chief minister was quoted, in a newspaper on November 19, 2017, as saying that "criminals will be jailed or killed in encounters".
According to the media reports, carried today, the eye- witnesses have told that the victim, a gym trainer was bundled into the back seat of his vehicle by the SI, who then pulled out his service revolver and fired at his throat in cold blood, the Commission said.

"They reached the Fortis Hospital in Sector-62 of Noida after 90 minutes of the incident while the hospital is barely 7 km from the shooting scene.
"One of the friends of the victim has reportedly stated that after the shooting, the SI called someone on his cell phone, saying that an encounter has taken place and remarked to his colleague," the statement said.