Arbitrary Deprivation of Life

IPT 2.3 | June 2023 | Section 1
By state actors:
  • Atiq Ahmed (61), a former Indian politician accused of kidnapping, and his brother Ashraf Ahmed, were fatally shot by three assailants while in police custody in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on April 15th. Atiq was addressing media persons as he and his brother were under police escort. Their killing was captured on live TV. Atiq’s son Asad (below) had been killed by the UP police a few days prior. The police in their initial investigation have claimed that Atiq Ahmed contracted and conspired to attack himself. 
  • Asad Ahmed (19) and Ghulam, both accused in a murder case, were killed by the Uttar Pradesh police in an ‘encounter’ or extra-judicial killing in Jhansi on April 13th. Asad was the son of Atiq Ahmed, who was himself killed in police custody (above). In a press conference announcing the ‘encounter’, UP police claimed they had killed 183 alleged criminals in such episodes, in the 6 years of Yogi Adityanath’s rule at the head of the BJP government in the state. Two other men, Mohammed Arbaz and Vijay Kumar alias Usman Chowdhury, who were connected to the abovementioned murder case had been killed by the police in March 2023 in similar encounters. 

Asif Painter (30) was allegedly burnt by five policemen, resulting in his death, in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district. The incident occurred on April 8th, and Asif succumbed to his injuries on April 9th. The victim was involved in a case of bribery and corruption at Chimaganj Police Station where the alleged perpetrator police officers were posted. 

Wasim Sajjad (25) was allegedly tortured and died in police custody in Ranchi, Jharkhand on April 7th. The police initially recorded the crime as an accident, even though the victim’s father had seen Wasim tied up inside a vehicle in the police station. The victim had before succumbing named a police officer, Krishan Kumar, for beating him, resulting eventually in his death.  

Mukhtar Hussain Shah (48), a resident of Mendhar district of Jammu & Kashmir died on April 27th after allegedly consuming poison, according to the police. This was days after he was summoned for police questioning following a terror attack in Poonch that had resulted in the death of 5 army personnel on April 20th. Mukhtar’s family allege that the magisterial probe into his death was a cover up and full of discrepancies. The family claims that they saw Mukhtar last after he received a call from the police to come for a second round of questioning, with his brother adding that there were alleged torture marks on his body. 

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The international borders between India, Pakistan and China are disputed and this map is for reference purposes only.

In continuing violence in the state of Manipur that erupted on May 3rd, at least 98 people have died in clashes between the tribal and mostly Christian Kuki community and the mostly Hindu Meitei group. The immediate trigger was a High Court order granting the majority Meiteis Scheduled Tribe status and connected affirmative action benefits. The deaths have been at the hands of security forces, as well non-state actors, with tens of thousands displaced. Kukis have alleged that majority Hindu mobs were incited to attack them, forcing many to run to escape lynchings and mob killings. Reports have also emerged of hundreds of churches being burnt and vandalised. Human Rights Watch has alleged police bias against the tribals in the BJP governed state, with the Chief Minister referring to Kukis allegedly involved in the violence as terrorists. A former BJP MLA has been arrested for inciting further violence as the state continues to witness death and destruction, with allegations of the BJP ruled Central government  not doing enough to contain the violence and protect the tribal groups. Only after much delay did the union Home Minister announce measures on June 1st, including a judicial probe, to address the violence. 

1 – Arbitrary Deprivation of Life
2 – Arbitrary Detentions
3 – Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
4 – Incitement to Discrimination, Hostility and Violence
5 – Violations of Freedom of Religion
6 – Discrimination in Access to Economic, Social, Cultural Rights
7 – Violations of the Right to Fair Trial
8 – Violations of the Right to Remedy
Conclusion