Judge who ordered FIR against police in Sambhal firing case transferred
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued an administrative order transferring 14 judicial officers, including Sambhal Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vibhanshu Sudheer, who has been posted as Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Sultanpur.
The transfer comes days after CJM Sudheer passed an order directing the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against several police officials in connection with the Sambhal violence of November 2024. Among those named in the order were then Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, Sambhal Kotwali in-charge Anuj Kumar Tomar and 15 to 20 unidentified police personnel.
The case relates to allegations of police firing with intent to kill, in which a local youth, Alam, sustained grievous injuries. The application before the court stated that on November 24, 2024, at around 8.45 am, Alam was selling rusks and biscuits from a thela near Jama Masjid in Mohalla Kot, Sambhal, when police personnel allegedly opened fire on a crowd.
After examining the police report and medical records, the court noted that the victim had indeed suffered gunshot injuries, though the identity of the shooter was yet to be established. The CJM observed that the true facts of the incident could only be revealed through investigation and that it was unlikely a victim of an attempted murder would falsely implicate someone while sparing the actual offender.
“In such a situation, it is clear that if a heinous crime such as attempted murder is committed against someone, the victim will accuse the person who attempted to commit the crime,” the court observed.
In his 11-page order, CJM Sudheer also rejected the preliminary defence taken by the police that the firing was part of official duty. Referring to rulings of the Supreme Court of India, he held that opening fire on a person cannot be treated as discharge of official duty and therefore does not attract statutory protection.
The court further noted that the police report appeared “suspicious” and was inconsistent with the medical evidence, which specifically recorded a “gunshot wound” and mentioned “police firing in riot.” Holding that a prima facie cognisable offence was made out, the court said that only a full investigation could bring out the truth.
CJM Sudheer had allowed the application filed by Yameen, the father of the injured youth, under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), directing registration of the FIR against the concerned police officials.
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100 stray dogs ''poisoned'' to death near Hyderabad, case booked
Hyderabad (PTI): In yet another incident of stray dog killings, nearly 100 canines were allegedly "poisoned to death" in Yacharam village near here following which a case was registered against a sarpanch and two others for their alleged involvement in the act, police said on Wednesday.
The fresh incident follows killing of nearly 500 stray dogs in different districts of Telangana since January 6.
An animal welfare activist, associated with Stray Animal Foundation of India, in a complaint filed with Yacharam Police Station alleged that the dogs were injected with some poisonous substances on January 19.
A case was registered under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act against the sarpanch, secretary and ward member of Yacharam gram panchayat on Tuesday, a police official said.
As per the complainant, 100 dogs were killed, but based on preliminary investigation and after verifying with villagers around 50 dogs were found to be killed, though further probe is on in this regard, the official said.
An investigation is also underway to find out the carcasses of the dogs, he said.
Earlier, police in Hanamkonda district had booked nine persons, including two women sarpanches and their husbands, in connection with the alleged killing of around 300 stray dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages.
In another incident, around 200 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Kamareddy district, and a case was booked against six persons, including five village sarpanches, for their alleged involvement in the incident.
It is suspected that some elected representatives, including sarpanches, allegedly carried out the killings to "fulfill promises made to villagers" ahead of gram panchayat elections held in December last year, to tackle the stray dog menace.
