Allahabad High Court Condemns Routine Leg-Shooting Encounters by UP Police
The Allahabad High Court has expressed grave concern over what it describes as a disturbing trend in Uttar Pradesh, where police encounters involving shooting suspects in the leg have become a routine feature. The court's strong remarks came during hearings on bail applications filed by three individuals who were arrested after being shot in the leg in separate incidents across the state.
Court Questions Motives Behind Police Actions
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, presiding over the bench, stated that such encounters appear to be executed to please senior officers or to teach a lesson to the accused. The court emphasized that this conduct is wholly impermissible in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, where the power to punish lies exclusively with the judiciary, not the police.
The bench noted that it is frequently confronted with cases where police indiscriminately resort to firing, even in matters involving petty offences like theft, often projecting these incidents as police encounters. This encroachment into the judicial domain cannot be countenanced, as the functions of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are distinct and well-defined in India.
Bail Applications Highlight Widespread Issue
The court was hearing bail petitions from:
- Anas, a resident of Muzaffarnagar
- Deepak Lohapita of Jhansi
- Raju alias Rajkumar of Mirzapur
All three were arrested by police after being shot in the leg in different districts of Uttar Pradesh, underscoring the geographical spread of this concerning practice.
Court Demands Accountability from Senior Officials
In its order issued on Wednesday, January 28, the High Court directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to appear through video conferencing on Friday. They were asked to inform the bench about:
- Whether any oral or written directions were issued to police officers to fire upon accused persons in the leg or in the name of police encounters
- Whether directions have been issued to ensure compliance with Supreme Court guidelines in the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) case regarding proper registration of FIRs, recording of statements from injured persons, and investigation by senior officers in cases involving death or grievous injury during police encounters
The court's intervention highlights growing judicial scrutiny of police methods in Uttar Pradesh and raises important questions about law enforcement accountability in India's most populous state.
