Vikas Dubey's "encountered" aide was a minor, claims family
What's the story
The family of Prabhat Mishra, who was killed in an alleged encounter by police before noted gangster Vikas Dubey was arrested (and subsequently killed), has claimed he was a minor and had cleared Class 12 exams, merely ten days before his death. They asserted their son wasn't involved in criminal activities and accused Uttar Pradesh Police of "framing" him. Cops called him Dubey's aide.
Context
Background: A shootout, a wanted gangster, and multiple encounters
History-sheeter Dubey, who was named in at least 60 cases, orchestrated a sensational shootout in Kanpur's Bikru village when police went for a raid on July 2-3. Eight cops, including a DSP, were killed prompting police to launch a massive manhunt. Before he was arrested from Ujjain, five of his aides were gunned down by police. Dubey also met a similar fate last week.
Claims
Police said Prabhat confessed he fled after Kanpur massacre
UP cops said Prabhat (alias Kartikey), along with two other aides of Dubey, was arrested by Faridabad Police. Reportedly, the cops received information that people from Dubey's gang were present at a house in New Indira Nagar. They were held after bullets were fired from both the sides. Further, according to Faridabad Police, Kartikey confessed that he had absconded with Dubey after the incident at Bikru village.
Family's version
After firing, men ran fearing cops, said mother
However, Kartikey's family vehemently denied police's theory, asserting he didn't have any criminal links. His mother Geeta Mishra told Indian Express that they were asleep when the firing happened on July 3. Once the noise subsided, she saw men abandoning their homes, fearing arrest. "I asked Kartikey to leave too for a few days," she said, adding that her husband wasn't even home then.
Details
Family couldn't contact him after he "ran away"
Geeta alleged police entered her house and took away her cellphone. "I didn't remember Kartikey's phone number and so could not contact him after he left," she said. She learned of her son's arrest on July 9 but said she didn't know two other men who were with him. About his death too, she came to know through media. "It's a murder," she claimed.
Quote
Perhaps they killed him because assailants used my terrace: Geeta
"I don't know the truth because I did not allow anyone to enter my house. I think the police killed my son because the assailants used my terrace and now I fear for my husband's life," Geeta said. Her husband works in Kanpur.
Family's version
Family said he was being falsely blamed
Notably, according to Kartikey's Class 10 mark-sheet he was born on May 27, 2004, making him 16 years old, at the time of his death. Geeta said he was yet to collect his Class 12 mark-sheet. "He wanted to join the Air Force. The child with such good marks would never take part in criminal activities. The police are falsely blaming him," she added.
Do you know?
Who are police to decide his fate, asked his sister
In fact, Kartikey's sister is sure her brother was innocent. "Even if my brother committed a crime, who are police to decide his fate. Police killed him and planted a firearm on his body," she claimed. However, cops maintained the deceased was 20 years old.