A father’s unending wait for justice

It’s a 16-year-old struggle Shokat Ali (73) is determined to fight till the end. In 1994, his 25-year-old son Mohammed Rashid, a reader with Delhi Police, was shot dead in the IP Estate police station, reports Sumit Saxena.

It’s a 16-year-old struggle Shokat Ali (73) is determined to fight till the end. In 1994, his 25-year-old son Mohammed Rashid, a reader with Delhi Police, was shot dead in the IP Estate police station.

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The main accused in the case, constable Arvind Kumar, was convicted and charged under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. But the other accomplices in the case are still free.

Rashid was shot five times - in the arm, chest, neck and the head. But police officials called it a case of accidental firing. They registered a case under Section 304 A (death due to negligence).

Ali had filed a complaint demanding an independent inquiry in the matter and, as a result, the crime branch of the Delhi Police took over investigations; it found Arvind Kumar guilty of killing Rashid and was arrested.

In July 2009, Additional Sessions Judge Girish Kathpalia convicted Kumar for first-degree murder of Mohammed Rashid and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The judge noted the discrepancies and said nearly all the police officials in the IP Estate police station turned hostile during the trial.

But it has been six months since the judgement but there has been no action from the police.

Ali then filed an RTI application asking what action has been taken against the erring police officials after the judgement. The police’s reply in November 2009 was: “Action taken on the matter is under process.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (central district) Jaspal Singh said, “The accused police officials are posted in other districts. We have sent the copy of the order to their respective districts.”

Ali claimed his son was killed as he became aware of an illicit relation between the accused and one sub-inspector, Shashi Bala, posted at the same police station.

“From the SHO to the investigating officer, every body was involved in sheilding the accused. All these officials reverted

from their statements in court,” said Ali.