The Supreme Court on Monday did not buy the Uttar Pradesh Police’s version that the Hapur lunching of two men by cow vigilantes, leading to the death of one of them, was a “road rage” incident which turned fatal.
Instead, a Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misr a, ordered the Inspector General of Police, Meerut division, to conduct a separate enquiry into the incident and file a report with the Supreme Court in two weeks.
The court’s order came on a petition filed by the surviving victim, Samiudin, who was brutally assaulted by a mob on the pretext that they were transporting and butchering cows. Qasim Qureishi, a 45-year-old meat trader, died of his injuries after he was severely beaten along with Mr. Samiuddin by the mob on June 18.
The case was brought back to the limelight in a recent expose by the news channel NDTV in which one of the accused is caught on camera talking about the assault on the two men and of even denying water to one of the injured men.
Mr. Samiuddin has urged the court to cancel the bail of Yudhishthir Singh Sisodia, who was allegedly seen talking in the video.
The Bench directed the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to the plea by Mr. Samiuddin, represented by advocate Vrinda Grover, to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers from outside the State. The victim sought that the trial be conducted outside Uttar Pradesh for fear of intimidation and the need for fair proceedings.
The Bench, also comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, directed the Superintendent of Police of Hapur district to provide police protection to Mr. Samiuddin if he so requests. The petition has been posted for further hearing on August 28.
