IPT 2.1 | january 2023 | Section 1
Arbitrary deprivation of life: killings and excessive use of force by state actors and non-state groups.
Several incidents of attacks resulting in death of Muslims, by state and non-state actors were reported.
By state actors
On November 21st, Israel Khan (30) was found dead in a hospital, after being in police custody in Guna district in Madhya Pradesh. The victim’s uncle said that when the victim’s father went to the police station to ask of his son’s whereabouts, he could hear Khan’s screams as he was being beaten by four policemen and three police agents, two of whom are reportedly associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The Guna Superintendent of Police has confirmed that Khan was in police custody for about 30 minutes before the declaration of death. A judicial probe has reportedly been ordered into the incident.
On December 19th, Sheikh Sabir Ali (35) died in police custody at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Barasat, West Bengal. He was arrested six months before and was in Dum Dum Central Jail on charged in a drug case. Ali’s family claim that the case against him was based on false allegations and that he was tortured by the police, and that resulted in his death.
By non-state actors
On November 25th Sadiq Qureshi (32) a security guard at a wedding facility in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead at a wedding ceremony, by Ramji Gupta, the treasurer of the BJP’s local youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
On October 30th, Mohammad Nehal was lynched to death in Mahartha village in the state of Bihar, on accusation of marrying a Hindu woman. Nihal was attacked as the couple had eloped and married a few years ago, and he was out on bail after being jailed for that based on a police complaint by the woman’s family.
On October 3rd Ejaz Khan (29) was lynched to death by a mob in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh over suspicion of goat theft. A case has been registered against Ejaz, for the alleged theft in Jashpur, which borders Jharkhand, where the victim was from.
On December 24th, Abdul Jaleel (45) was stabbed to death near his shop in Mangaluru, Karnataka. The motive is yet to be determined according to the police.