The Supreme Court on Monday directed Meerut's Inspector General of Police (IGP) to probe the Hapur lynching case, in which one person was killed and another brutally assaulted in the name of cow vigilantism, and file a report in two weeks.
Terming the allegations of Samiuddin, the survivor, as "serious", the survivor of the alleged mob attack, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the IGP to "facilitate the recording" of victim's statement before a judicial magistrate regarding the incident in which 45-year-old Qasim Qureishi was beaten to death at Hapur on June 18.
"In the meantime, the IGP, Meerut (Range) shall submit a report with regard to the incident in question. We have so directed keeping in view the serious allegations/ assertions made in the writ petition," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.
It took note of the submission of senior advocate K V Vishwanathan, representing petitioners Samiuddin, his brother Yaseen and Dinesh Tomar, that they were living in a state of fear as the police had forced them to register a case of road rage instead of mob lynching.
"In addition to what we have stated ..., if the petitioners do harbour a feeling of sense of insecurity, they shall bring it to the notice of the Superintendent of Police, Hapur, who shall provide them adequate security and do the needful so that they do not remain in a state of fear," it said.