The Supreme Court, on 13 August, directed the Meerut inspector general of police (IGP) to investigate the alleged Hapur lynching case, in which one person was killed and another brutally assaulted by a mob on the ‘suspicion of cow-slaughter’. They asked the police to submit the report within two weeks.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on the plea filed by Samiuddin, who was allegedly brutally assaulted by the mob. Samiuddin is pressing for an independent SIT probe and the transfer of its investigation and subsequent trial outside the state.
A bench, which also comprised Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, directed the Hapur Superintendent of Police to grant the sole surviving victim protection.
“Issue notice. In the meantime, Inspector General of Meerut range shall conduct an inquiry and submit a report in regard to the incident within two weeks,” the court ordered.
The bench considered the lawyer’s submission which stated Samiuddin, 64, along with 45-year-old meat trader Qasim Qureishi were brutally assaulted on 18 June by a mob on the pretext that they were involved in cow slaughter while the Hapur police registered a case of road rage.
The plea referred to a minute-long video that had surfaced on social media right after he was brutally beaten up. The video was shown to highlight that it was a case of mob lynching and not road rage as registered by the Hapur police.
Qureishi succumbed to his injuries while Samiuddin is still recovering.
The plea has also sought cancellation of bail granted to the accused, including alleged key offender Yudhishthir Singh Sisodia. The bench has now posted the matter for further hearing on 28 August.
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