Submit report on Hapur lynching, SC tells UP IGP
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday directed the IGP (Meerut Range) to submit a report on the lynching of a man in Hapur in Uttar Pradesh by a mob of alleged cow vigilantes.
It also directed the state government's response within two weeks on a plea for a court-monitored Special Investigation Team probe into the lynching of Qasim, a cattle trader, in Hapur on June 18.
"... the Inspector General of Police of Meerut Range shall submit a report with regard to the incident in question. We have so directed in view of serious allegations/assertions made in the writ petition," a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said.
The court directions came as senior counsel K.V. Vishwanathan said that an act of mob lynching was being projected as road-rage violence.
As Vishwanathan questioned the manner in which the case was handled by the police, the court said: "The IGP (Meerut Range) shall issue directions to a suitable competent authority to move the Magistrate concerned for recording of statement by the sole witness under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure."
In response to submissions on the safety of petitioners Samayudeen and other, the court further directed that if the petitioners harboured a feeling of insecurity they shall bring it to the notice of Hapur Superintendent of Police, "who shall provide them adequate security and do the needful so that they do not remain in a state of fear."
Samayuddin was beaten up mercilessly during the lynching of Qasim at Bajhera village in Hapur district on June 18.
He has pleaded for cancellation of bail granted to the accused, contending also that the Uttar Pradesh Police had ignored the top court's direction to curb lynchings.
The court fixed August 28 for further hearing.
On July 17, the Supreme Court issued 22 guidelines to the central and state governments to put an end to the "horrendous acts" of vigilantism, lynching and mobocracy and directed them to work in tandem to take "preventive, remedial and punitive measures".
The top court had said that it was the duty of the State to "ensure that the machinery of law and order functions efficiently and effectively in maintaining peace so as to preserve our quintessentially secular ethos and pluralistic social fabric in a democratic set-up governed by the rule of law."
Of the 22 guidelines, 12 dealt with preventive steps, nine with remedial measures and one punitive action against police officers found wanting at any stage -- prevention, investigation and expeditious trial.
The departmental action "shall be taken to its logical conclusion preferably within six months", the court had said.
The court had also suggested that Parliament enact a law categorising lynching and other forms of vigilantism as a distinct offence and providing for adequate punishment.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Cong set to lose Karnataka bypolls as per govt intelligence report: BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP on Monday claimed that, according to the Congress government’s own intelligence report, the ruling party is set to lose the by-elections in two Assembly segments in Karnataka.
Expressing confidence of a big win in the bypolls, BJP leaders said people would "teach a lesson" to the Congress, accusing it of being "anti-development".
"There has been good campaigning in both constituencies. There is confusion within Congress. In the Davanagere South segment, Muslims have decided not to vote for them, while in Bagalkot, there is infighting within the Congress candidate’s family," Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the CM, who had gone to campaign in Kerala, rushed back to Bagalkot following the intelligence report indicating that the Congress could lose the bypolls.
"I want to ask the Congress why it is struggling in the by-elections when it makes big claims about development and implementing guarantee schemes. Are you in a position where people will vote for you voluntarily?" he asked.
Alleging "zero development" under the Congress rule so far, the opposition leader said Siddaramaiah has made Karnataka a "debt state."
"There is no proper development, and the money under guarantee schemes is not being paid to beneficiaries on time," he added.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said the bypolls in the two Assembly segments have "disturbed CM Siddaramaiah’s sleep" and become a "hard nut to crack" for the Congress government.
He said that for nearly three years, the Congress government, including the chief minister and ministers, has blamed the central government for "hiding its failures".
Despite having an experienced CM who has presented a record 17 budgets, there has been no development in the state, he claimed, adding that Siddaramaiah and his government have "completely forgotten" the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) communities.
Asserting that people are seeking change and will not fall for Congress's "allurements", the BJP leader said the party is confident of winning the bypolls.
He said there is significant anger among voters towards the Congress government, which could signal a future political shift in the state.
Even minority communities have realised that their development is not possible under the Congress and will support the BJP, he said, adding that the party is "not anti-minorities."
