Vikas Sakya, who represented the group — People’s Union for Human Rights — in the fake shootout case, said: “I fought the case for six years without charging any fees. But now, in the absence of any protection from the district police against the threats by the aides of the culprit, I may not be able to pursue the case any more.”

“On several earlier occasions too, these policemen either threatened me or offered money which I had politely refused. I know I cannot fight against them alone. So now I have decided not to pursue the case further in the higher courts where they would file an appeal. Protection of my family is my first responsibility,” he added.

According to the lawyer, the relatives of the convicts had entered his chamber on January 5 when the verdict was announced and threatened him of dire consequences if he pursued the case further. “After some of my fellow colleagues protested, they fled. I immediately informed Sonebhadra SP Preetinder Singh but the police didn’t provide me any security,” said Sakya.

He said he had sent copies of his complaint to DGP Karam Veer Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Kunwar Fateh Bahadur.

The case dates back to September 2, 2003, when police claimed killing two “hardcore criminals” in an encounter near Rantola forest. The police also disposed of the bodies of the two youths — Prabhat Kumar Srivastava, BA first year student of Allahabad University, and his friend Rama Shankar Sahu — without informing their parents. Both youths were residents of Garhwa in Jharkhand.

Following protests by locals and efforts made by Prabhat’s father, Lallan Prasad Srivastava, an inquiry was ordered into the incident. The probe found that it was a fake encounter as the policemen had picked the youths from a railway station while they were waiting for their trains.

The police then took him to the forest and shot them from point blank range.

Earlier this week, all the 14 policemen accused in the case were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two of the accused are, however, still absconding.