Chitrakoot Jail Firing Incident: NHRC Issues Notice To Police & Prison Authorities; Seeks ATR

On 14^th May, 2021, a prisoner allegedly snatched a pistol from a prison personnel and killed two other prisoners. Subsequently, he was also killed in firing by the jail staff.

The state government has already suspended Jail Superintendent and Jailor, holding them responsible for security lapses.

The NHRC has now asked the Director General of Police, UP; District Magistrate, Chitrakoot, Superintendent of Police, Chitrakoot and the Chitrakoot Jail Superintendent to submit an Action Taken Report in this regard within ten weeks.

The Commission has also sought for site plan of the crime scene, including details of positioning of forces/police and deceased during the encounter, and the report of fingerprints expert, clearly mentioning whether the chance prints found on seized weapon matches with the fingerprints of the victim alleged to have fired the weapon recovered or otherwise.

It has asked the authorities that the report should contain the following documents:

• Detailed report (covering all the aspect leading to the death of the prisoners/encounter)
• Copies of all relevant GD entry or extract including departure & arrival of police/forces before & after the encounter
• Copy of seizure memo
• MLC reports of the injured police personnel, if any
• Details of criminal history of the deceased persons, if any (including the present status of case(s) registered against the deceased)
• Site plan of scene of occurrence giving all the details (including positioning of forces/police and deceased during the encounter)
• Inquest report
• Post-mortem examination report of each of the deceased (typed copy of PMR especially injury along with diagram of entry-exit/ wound must be provided). The report should clearly mention whether blackening/charring/tattooing was present or not
• Videocassette/CD of post mortem examination of each of the deceased
• Result of the forensic examination of "hand wash" of the deceased to ascertain the presence of residue of gun powder.
• Report of Ballistic Expert on examination of the arms & ammunition alleged to have been used by the deceased and his companions
• Report of fingerprints expert, clearly mentioning whether the chance prints found on seized weapon matches with the fingerprints of the victim alleged to have fired the weapon recovered or otherwise.
• Details of the investigation agency and case status
• Magisterial enquiry report (along with copies of the statement of family members of the deceased and other independent witnesses)

Following reports, if applicable, are also to be submitted before the Commission:

• Copy of dead body hand over the memo, if applicable
• Copy of identification memo, if applicable
• Copies of relevant wireless log
• Action taken on a complaint by a relative of deceased or other persons alleging killing in a fake encounter/ negligence on the part of public servants.

The NHRC has also asked the State Human Rights Commission, Uttar Pradesh, through its Secretary to inform the date of cognizance, if any, taken by them in this matter.