Ishrat's family happy over chargesheet

The family members of Ishrat Jahan, who was killed in a fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004, on Wednesday alleged that chief minister Narendra Modi too was a part of the conspiracy, and he should not be spared.

The family members of Ishrat Jahan, who was killed in a fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004, on Wednesday alleged that chief minister Narendra Modi too was a part of the conspiracy, and he should not be spared.

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The charge sheet stated that the fake encounter was a joint operation between Gujarat police and the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau.

Ishrat's mother Shamima Kauser told reporters that CBI has confirmed what she has been stating for the last nine years that her daughter was innocent and that she was killed in a fake encounter.

"I have been repeatedly saying for the past nine years that my daughter is innocent and falsely implicated. Because of some policemen and politicians, we had to face these problems."

"Names of the accused, who ensured execution of the murder, have not appeared in the charge sheet. I am hopeful that those who hatched the conspiracy would also be severely punished," said Shamima, tears in her eyes.

Ishrat's sister Mushrat recalled, "My sister was in BSc second year when she was killed and she was the only breadwinner in the house after our father died in 2002.

"We had to go through a lot of problems after Ishrat's death. It has now been proved by the CBI that Ishrat was killed in a fake encounter. Because of the blot on our family, our sisters could not get married and our brother did not get any job," said a sobbing Mushrat.

Responding to a query if she suspected Modi's role in the murder, Mushrat replied, "My sister was killed with allegations that she had gone to murder Narendra Modi. Hence in my sister's murder, I suspect Modi's involvement."

Rauf Lala, a relative of Ishrat Jahan, said, "Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was aware of the facts surrounding Ishrat through IB.

"Still she was killed in the fake encounter. Modi was part of the conspiracy hatched to murder Ishrat....we hope, in the supplementary charge sheet, Modi and others' names would also appear."

Local MLA Jitendra Avhad (NCP), who has championed Ishrat's family's cause from the start, said the family would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to request him to ensure transparent investigation in the case.