Lucknow encounter fake like Batla House, says Ulama Council's Aamir Rashadi; FIR ordered

Two days after a suspected terrorist was killed by security forces on the outskirts of Lucknow, Rashtriya Ulama Council (RUC) president Maulana Aamir Rashadi Madani today raised doubts over the authenticity of the encounter. 

Talking to media in Kanpur, Madani said that Saifullah had been killed by the police long before it was made public and the police personnel were firing from inside the house, in what was advertised as “firing by terrorist.”

"This is a fake encounter just like Batla House. This is state terrorism. The encounter was a made-up story," Madani said. 

Daljit Chaudhary, ADG (Law and Order), UP, has ordered Kanpur police to register an FIR against Madani for allegedly inciting kin of Saifullah. 

Saifullah’s father Sartaj, who refused to take the body of his “terrorist son,” termed Madani’s statement as wrong and said he believes the account by the UP Police. 

“I have said what I had to say to my countrymen and I stand by it. What Madani is saying is wrong,” Sartaj said in a telephonic conversation with India TV. 

Saifullah, suspected to be linked with Tuesday's train blast in Madhya Pradesh, was killed on Wednesday morning in an encounter that lasted for about 12 hours on the outskirts of Lucknow. 

Sartaj had refused to take Saifullah's body, saying, "A traitor cannot be related to me, let alone be my son."