Noida ‘encounter’: Police transfers case to crime branch, gym owner’s kin demand CBI inquiry

The family of gym owner-cum-trainer Jitendra Yadav, who was shot at in an alleged fake ‘encounter’ by a trainee sub-inspector of police at Parthala Khanjarpur on Saturday, demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry in the case. They said they will take to the streets if the demand is not met.

This came after Gautam Budh Nagar police chief Love Kumar on Monday transferred the case to the crime branch for investigation.

Kumar said since all the four personnel involved in the incident were attached to the same police station, he has assigned the case investigation to the crime branch.

“We are not satisfied with the police investigation. If a CBI inquiry is not instituted, we will hold protest,” said Sarla Yadav, Jitendra’s grandaunt.

The family is not ready to accept anything less than a CBI inquiry. “The police are floating various theories to save their men. They say the cops were not drunk. We have the CCTV footage of the Fortis Hospital where my brother Jitendra was taken for treatment. It clearly shows they were drunk. Police also say that the sub inspector was known to us. We do not trust the police here. Let there be a CBI inquiry,” said Bablu, who was following Jitendra in another vehicle on his way back from a family function in Behrampur when the incident took place.

He said there is a marriage in the family on February 7 and if CBI inquiry is not ordered by then, his family and friends will hold protest and block traffic the next day.

On late Saturday night, 25-year-old Yadav was allegedly fired upon by under trainee sub-inspector Vijay Darshan at Parthala. While Darshan and another trainee sub-inspector Pankaj were in plainclothes, the two constables accompanying them were in police uniform.

SI Darshan was arrested and sent to jail. The incident raised a huge public outcry and protest by family of the victim who alleged that the policemen faked an encounter to get ‘promotion’.

Debunking the police claim that Jitendra was known to SI Darshan, Bablu said,“We do not know the sub inspector at all. Even if he was known to him, did he get the right to shoot him? He is the same person who was awarded for his bravery recently. This emboldened him and to get promotion faster, he shot at my brother in a planned way and tried to fake it as an encounter.”

Jitendra has been running the gym in Parthala village for the last one year. Married about four years back, he has two kids — a boy and a girl.

His wife Sonia said she wants an impartial investigation in the matter and the guilty to be punished. “We want justice,” she said.

A statement issued by Fortis Healthcare Limited said,“The patient was brought to Fortis Hospital, Noida in a critical condition and underwent a live-saving (life saving) surgery on February 4th 2018. He is hemodynamically stable and under close monitoring currently.”

Sources in Fortis Hospital said Jitendra is stable now. “The bullet hit him in the throat. The surgery performed on him yesterday was successful. As of now, he is stable. Keeping in view his various health parameters, he is off ventilator now,” said the source.

Chief medical superintendent Dr Ajey Agarwal said the medical examination of Darshan did not show any trace of alcohol. Darshan was brought to the district hospital for medical examination at 1.55 am on Sunday morning.

Emergency medical officer (EMO) on duty Dr Ravindra said,“The medical report does not show presence of alcohol in Darshan’s body. The cop’s medical report also rules out any injury caused to him.”

Protesting the fake encounter, Gautam Budh Nagar District Court Bar Association on Monday also demanded CBI inquiry in the incident. Association president Rajiv Tongad and secretary Lalit Sharma headed the meeting held at district court. Advocates expressed concern over the fake encounter in which gym trainer Jitendra was shot at by police.

NHRC issues notice

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the alleged fake encounter in Noida.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a 25-year-old man was shot in Noida by trainee sub-inspector of Uttar Pradesh police during the night of the February 3, telling his colleague that the encounter would earn him an out of turn promotion. However, reportedly, the Noida police denied receiving any message of an encounter.

“It seems that the police personnel in the state of Uttar Pradesh are feeling free, misusing their power in the light of an undeclared endorsement given by the higher ups. They are using their privileges to settle scores with the people,” the NHRC said.

It added, “The police force is to protect the people, these kinds of incidents would send a wrong message to the society. 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 trainee sub-inspector has gravely violated his right to life and liberty.”

The commission has issued a notice to the chief secretary and the director general of police, Uttar Pradesh to look into the emerging scenario personally, and take appropriate action to sensitise police personnel not to abuse their power to harass the innocent citizens. A detailed report in the matter from both of them is expected within six weeks.