High Court Questions Police Account of Shravasti Encounter

The Allahabad High Court has cast doubt on the police account of an encounter in Shravasti district, raising multiple procedural and logistical questions that contradict the official narrative. Among the court's key observations was how 13 police personnel could have been accommodated in a single jeep, as claimed in the police report. The scrutiny comes as the court examines the circumstances surrounding the incident, which has now been referred for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The High Court's questioning has effectively reopened the case for thorough examination.

Court records indicate several inconsistencies in the encounter narrative. The court questioned why none of the approximately 23 police personnel allegedly surrounding the accused sustained injuries despite the suspect allegedly opening fire. Additionally, the court raised concerns about the ballistic accuracy claimed in the account, specifically questioning how a shot fired from 15 meters away in darkness could have struck both legs of the accused with such precision.

These discrepancies have prompted judicial authorities to direct the CBI to investigate the encounter afresh. The court's intervention signals judicial scrutiny of police encounter procedures in the state and underscores concerns about the consistency and credibility of official accounts in such incidents. The CBI investigation is expected to examine the physical evidence, witness statements, and procedural compliance in the Shravasti encounter case.