Activist Accuses UP STF Of Picking Up Rakesh Pandey From Hospital And Killing Him In Staged Encounter

LUCKNOW || Eminent activist Nutan Thakur on Monday alleged that the encounter of Rakesh aka Hanuman Pandey by the Special Task Force (STF) of the UP Police in Sarojininagar, Lucknow on August 9, 2020 was staged and that Pandey was killed in cold blood by cops.

In a statement and a letter sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Thakur has alleged that Rakesh Pandey was recuperating in Sri Sai Hospital, Gudamba on the night of the incident. Based on "pieces of evidence", she added, 4-5 persons had come to his room at around 02.30 AM and took him with themselves.

On being asked by the hospital administration, she claimed, they said that Rakesh Pandey’s mother is seriously ill where he is going. As per the FIR, the incidence allegedly took place at around 4.26 AM in the morning. Before this incidence, at around 04.00 AM in the morning, many armed persons in plain clothes again came to the Hospital.

They took away the CCTV cameras, their entire recordings, the medical records of Rakesh Pandey and other patients.

They said that they are taking it for enquiry and they can be taken back from Sarojininagar police station. Later on being asked, Sarojini Nagar police denied having taken these things and these evidences have not been returned so far.

Nutan has presented the admission slip of Rakesh Pandey in Sri Sai Hospital and his photo in the hospital room as evidence. She said it seems the STF failed to take away the admission slip from Rakesh Pandey’s body, which was later found by his family members.

Nutan had presented a complaint before the NHRC, which has sought response from DGP, UP within 06 weeks. She has now presented these new facts before the Commission seeking fair enquiry.