The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, seeking a detailed report on allegations that it "endorsed" killings in encounters by the police, seeking improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
The commission has issued the notice to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and sought a detailed report within six weeks.
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the government of Uttar Pradesh allegedly endorsing killings in encounters by the police, seeking improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
“The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the government of Uttar Pradesh allegedly endorsing killings in encounters by police, seeking improvement in the law and order situation in the state,” It said.
"Apart from this, 98 officials were also injured and one died. Another news story of 16 September says 15 people had been killed in encounters since the new government came to power in Uttar Pradesh," the NHRC claimed, citing the report.
The reported statement of the Chief Minister tantamount to giving police and other state-governed forces a "free hand" to deal with criminals at their will and possibly, it may result into "abuse of power" by public servants, the NHRC said.
The commission noted that it also received intimation about "22 encounter deaths from the state police in 2017 till date, as per its standing guidelines."
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