Protest held demanding probe into Batla encounter

The demand for a judicial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar encounter grew loud with a group of students and residents of Batla House area today staging a dharna here claiming that the police theory of the incident has many loopholes.

The demand for a judicial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar encounter grew loud with a group of students and residents of Batla House area on Sunday staging a dharna here claiming that the police theory of the incident has many loopholes.

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"We demand a judicial probe into September 19 shooting incident and release of the two students arrested then as they have nothing to do with the Delhi blasts," said Kamran Siddiqui of NGO 'Real Cause', which led the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

Yesterday, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh had called for a similar investigation into the encounter at the Batla House, where, according to police, some suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists who were behind the Delhi blasts were hiding.

"We have already lodged a complaint with the NHRC which asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to give a report into the incident in 14 days. We will also submit a memorandum to President and Prime Minister," Siddiqui said.

He claimed that eyewitnesses to the incident are being pressurised by police but added, "We will produce them in court."

"Generally after such encounter police photographs the dead bodies at the spot and media is called at the sight of encounter. In this case, both didn't happen," Siddiqui asked.

Two students of Jamia Millia University, Sajid and Atif, were killed in the shootout while two others, Saif and Arif, were arrested. Inspector M C Sharma of Delhi Police's Special Cell was critically injured in the encounter and later died in hospital.