Custodial Killings in Bhopal

The absence of arms and ammunition, photographs of the undertrials with arms raised as if they had surrendered, policemen shooting at the fallen men, contradictory statements from authorities, and bullet injuries primarily above the waist, are only some of the evidences that point towards what looks like a cold-blooded custodial killing. Since their escape in October 2013, the five absconding (Faisal was rearrested soon after) Khandwa jailbreak undertrials had been among the favourite bogeymen of the MP Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agency (NIA). The MP Human Rights Commission has asked the deputy inspector general of police to submit a report on the encounter while the focus of its inquiry remains only on the security lapses. The Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) demands: (1) Immediate independent investigation into the so-called encounter killings; (2) Punishment of all guilty; (3) Lifting of the ban on SIMI; (4) Release of all SIMI detainees as they are completely unsafe in police custody; and (5) Compensation to all those killed in fake encounters.