Supreme Court Slams Maharashtra Police for Inaction in Akola Riots Probe

Strategic Insights -

The Supreme Court has issued a severe rebuke to the Maharashtra police for failing to investigate an eyewitness's statement in the 2023 Akola communal riots. Mohammad Afzal, a 17-year-old, claimed he could identify one of the assailants who assaulted him and killed an auto driver, Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad, in a mistaken identity incident. Despite recording his statement in the hospital, the police did not conduct any probe into the allegation. The court has directed the state's home secretary to set up a special investigation team (SIT) comprising senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities to investigate Afzal's allegations and register an FIR.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court has criticized the Maharashtra police for not conducting a probe into the eyewitness's statement in the Akola communal riots.
  • The court has directed the state's home secretary to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the allegations made by Afzal.
  • The SIT has been tasked with filing a probe report in court within three months.
  • The court has also directed the state's home secretary to initiate disciplinary action against erring police officers and sensitivity training for the force.
  • The court has raised questions about the Bombay High Court's handling of the case, which disbelieved Afzal's allegation and found fault with his relatives for not lodging a complaint with the police immediately.
  • The police inspector of the Old City Police Station, Akola, was found to have attributed motives to Afzal and the high court accepted this, but the Supreme Court has questioned this assumption.
  • The court has expressed concern about the superior police officer's inaction in responding to Afzal's complaint on June 1, 2023.
  • The Supreme Court has also criticized the police inspector for filing a response on behalf of the government in the case.

Statistics:

  • The Akola communal riots occurred in May 2023.
  • Mohammad Afzal was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
  • The police recorded Afzal's statement in the hospital, but did not conduct any probe into his allegations.
  • The Supreme Court has directed the SIT to file a probe report within three months.
  • The court has also directed the state's home secretary to initiate disciplinary action against erring police officers.

Sources:

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[Mumbai: The Indian Express, Thursday, January 12, 2023, Amit Anand Choudhary