Muzaffarnagar encounter: NHRC issues notice to UP govt, DGP

Taking a suo motu cognizance of an alleged encounter of a 20-year old youth, Irshad Ahmad in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the state's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) asking for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.

As per reports, Ahmad was shot in the head on November 27, during an 'encounter', claimed the Uttar Pradesh Police.

His 65-year-old father Mohammad Dilshad has said that his son had "no criminal history and was killed in a cold blood fake encounter."

"The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim and his family. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks," the NHRC said in a statement.

The commission further said that it has observed that it is the solemn duty of the police force to protect the people and not create an atmosphere of fear.

"Any death caused in an encounter, if not justified, would amount to an offense of culpable homicide," the commission stated.

The police have reportedly, claimed that the victim along with others accomplices was transporting bulls in a truck and had opened fire at them when challenged.