Encounter death: Rights panel got family’s complaint four days before,sat on it

On Monday,the panel received another letter from her in which she informed that Pawan had been killed. She urged that an FIR of murder be registerd against ASP (West) B P Ashok,Circle Officer (Chowk),Station officer of Talkatora Sudhir Pal Dhama,Station officer of Thakurganj,Constables Mritunjay and Anil Bishnoi. She had identified Sudhir Pal Dhama in her complaint as the officer who had threatened to kill Pawan,beaten up her and her husband,and had been harassing the family because they refused to hand over their son.

Pawan had done a stint in jail in a case of petty theft. The police had also invoked Gangster Act against him. After he was released,the police often came looking for him. Pawan avoided them. The police then started harassing the family. All this was narrated in her complaint to the commission,which she also sent to the Chief Minister and the SSP and DM of Lucknow.

Police say Pawan was gunned down while running away after shooting a man and injuring two others in Kakori. They say Pawan fired back,but no one was injured. The police allege he had also killed an old couple and their granddaughter in Thakurganj on January 28. “When the matter will come up,the commission will see and pass appropriate order,” said Vishnu Sahai,a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court and member of the commission who looks after Lucknow division.

On Monday,Rama Devi moved an application before the CJM of Lucknow,requesting an FIR against the policemen. The court listed the matter for February 16.