The Jodhpur ACJM Court made a significant decision on Wednesday regarding the encounter of Rajasthan's gangster Anandpal, dismissing the CBI's closure report and deciding to prosecute the five police officers involved for murder. Although this encounter happened nearly 7 years ago, it's crucial to understand the claims made by both the police and Anandpal's family. Why did protests erupt across Rajasthan and neighboring states for weeks? Let's delve into the details surrounding Anandpal's encounter.
Encounter on June 24, 2017
The date was June 24, 2017, and the time was around 10:25 PM when the news broke that the police had killed gangster Anandpal Singh in an encounter. However, soon after, numerous questions began to arise about the legitimacy of this encounter. Anandpal's family also declared it a fake encounter and refused to perform his last rites. This sparked protests across Rajasthan and even saw Rajputs from other states joining in support of Anandpal.
Why Questions Arose About Anandpal's Encounter
Anandpal Singh's family lawyer claimed the encounter was fake, stating he was brought from Haryana and killed in a staged encounter in Churu. The lawyer pointed out several inconsistencies in the police's story, making it hard for many to believe. It was said that even his brothers didn't know his whereabouts, so how was he caught?
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Source: aajtak
Shot With an AK-47 and Then...?
The lawyer claimed the encounter was fake, explaining that the police had said Anandpal had 400 bullets left and was firing an AK-47, yet they managed to approach and shoot him in the back. All injured policemen were Rajputs. The family argued this was staged, saying Rajputs sympathized with Anandpal, hence why injured officers were also presented as Rajputs. The lawyer stated Anandpal wanted to surrender but with assurances of safety.
Used Brother as a Shield
Before Anandpal Singh's encounter, his brother Rupesh alias Vicky and an associate Devendra alias Gattu were captured by the police. It's said the police threatened to kill them in an encounter. While Vicky remained silent, Gattu got scared and revealed that Anandpal had arrived in Rajasthan just the day before and was staying at a house in a field in Churu's Maulasar. A 150-strong police and commando force then surrounded Maulasar village.
What Anandpal's Wife's Lawyer Said
Anandpal's wife Rajkanwar and brother Rupinder Singh's lawyer, Bhawar Singh Rathod, challenged the entire case in court. Rathod revealed that they contested the police's closure report, explaining that on the incident day, Anandpal was hiding on the roof. The police couldn't reach him, so officers asked his brother Rupinder to lead them, promising not to harm Anandpal. Upon reaching the roof, Anandpal surrendered but was beaten and shot by the then-SP Rahul Barhat, Additional SP Vidya Prakash Chaudhary, DSP Suryaveer Singh Rathod, and RAC Head Constable Kailash.
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How Was He Shot at Such Close Range?
Lawyer Rathod informed the court that, according to eyewitness statements and doctors' reports, Anandpal was shot at a close range of 3 to 5 feet, with visible signs of assault, as noted in medical reports. Considering these points, the court took cognizance and ordered a trial against the team involved in the encounter.
What the Police Reported
The police explained that upon arriving at the hideout, Anandpal started firing from an AK-47 through the back door. They had prior information that he had 400 rounds. He fired around 100 rounds and attempted to escape through a window. However, he was shot six times in the back by police who entered the house from the roof.
