Aisha Noori Seeks SC Probe into Alleged Extrajudicial Killings, Demands Accountability

NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Aisha Noori, the sister of notorious gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed, has taken a bold step by approaching the Supreme Court of India. Her plea seeks a thorough and unbiased inquiry into the alleged "extrajudicial killings" conducted by the government. Noori insists that the investigation should be led by a retired judge or an independent agency, ensuring transparency and fairness.

At the centre of Noori's petition is the encounter killing of her nephew, Asad Ahmed, who lost his life in a police encounter in Jhansi just a few days before the deaths of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed. Noori demands justice for her family members and believes that their rights, as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which upholds the principles of life and liberty, have been grossly violated. She argues that without a comprehensive and independent inquiry, justice cannot be served, and the responsible individuals and institutions will not be held accountable.

Noori alleges that her family members' deaths are part of a larger, sinister campaign orchestrated by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. She asserts that this campaign is characterized by viciousness, arbitrariness, and unlawfulness. Her petition highlights the urgent need for a thorough investigation to establish the involvement of state agents and bodies in extrajudicial killings. By doing so, Noori aims to ensure that those responsible for such acts are brought to justice.

Crucially, the petition underscores the importance of identifying and holding the higher authorities accountable for the killings. Noori argues that a fragmented inquiry that solely examines individual encounters would fall short of exposing the ultimate responsibility of the authorities who authorized, planned, and coordinated these unlawful acts. She emphasizes that a comprehensive investigation is necessary not only to protect the fundamental rights of the victims but also to ensure the effective implementation of the guarantees enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Although the Supreme Court is yet to admit Noori's petition, there is another public interest litigation pending before the apex court that also seeks an independent inquiry into the deaths of the Ahmed brothers. In response, the Supreme Court has requested a comprehensive affidavit from the Uttar Pradesh government. The affidavit must detail the steps taken to investigate the killings and shed light on the inquiry into the encounter killings of other individuals implicated in the Umesh Pal murder case, including Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad.

The shocking demise of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed occurred on April 15 while they were in police custody in Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Police had already named them and their family members as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. The chargesheet filed against them on May 26 listed several shooters, implicating the entire family of Atiq Ahmed.

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