Questions raised over gangster Vikas Dubey's encounter

With dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey being killed in an encounter early this morning, several questions are now being raised - how did the STF cover a distance of 45 kilometres in five minutes, and how did the vehicle which turned turtle get included in the convoy?

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): The encounter killing of gangster Vikas Dubey on Friday has raised several questions, with the opposition even accusing the ruling Yogi Adityanath government for staging the encounter to shield the real culprits.

While Samajwadi Party chief remarked that the car carrying Dubey had not overturned, but the government has been saved from turning over the secret, former Kerala DGP NC Asthana said it was a "cover up".

According to the police, Dubey was killed in an encounter after a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident and he tried to escape from the spot in Bhauti area.

After the accident, Dubey snatched the pistol of an STF personnel and tried to flee but was surrounded by the police team and he was injured in an exchange of fire. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead, police said.

According to reports, here is a brief timeline how the events panned out:

• 6:16 am- Vikas Dubey brought to Kanpur Dehat district headquarter in Mati
• 6:25 am - Vikas Dubey was reportedly at the Akbarpur Barah Toll Plaza in the district
• 6:30 am - Dubey reportedly shot during encounter

Further, reports suggest that the Kanpur STF was transporting Dubey in a convoy with three vehicles. However, the SUV that turned turtle at the encounter spot was reportedly not part of the original convoy.

Read:Gangster Vikas Dubey killed in encounter

Media persons, who were following the convoy, were also reportedly stopped by the police in Sachendi area before the encounter around 6.30 am.

Hence, there are a few pertinent questions being raised:

1. How did Kanpur Nagar STF cover a distance of around 45 kilometres in just five minutes?
2. How did the extra vehicle get included in the convoy in such short time?
3. Why were media persons stopped from following the convoy?

Read:Vehicle overturned as herd of cattle came in front of our car: STF

SUV overturned as driver tried to evade cattle: STF

However, later in the day, the STF issued a press note claiming that the SUV overturned as the driver was forced to take a sudden turn to evade a herd of cattle that had come in front of the vehicle.

"A herd of cattle had come in front of the vehicle due to which driver took a sudden turn leading to the fatal accident. Police tried to go close to nab him alive but he continued to fire. Police retaliated in self-defence," the STF said.

Read:Hours before killing, plea in SC feared Vikas Dubey's encounter

Incidentally, it was only last night, that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure Vikas Dubey's safety so that he is not killed in a police encounter.

Maharashtra based advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay had filed the petition late night apprehending that if Dubey is not given security, "there is every possibility that Vikas Dubey might be killed by Uttar Pradesh police like other co-accused once his custody is obtained by Uttar Pradesh police".