The CBI will soon begin its probe into the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. The agency, sources said, is expected to begin its probe next week.
According to sources the agency will constitute a special team, headed by a joint director, to probe the case. Besides, a DIG and two SPs will be part of the team, sources added. The agency has decided to probe the allegations of fake encounter in which the Mumbai-based teenager, along with three others, was killed, following the recent direction of the Gujarat high court.
“The agency will collect all relevant records from the Gujarat police, including the original FIR registered by the Ahmedabad crime branch, which said they were gunned down on the basis of a Central intelligence input,” sources said. The agency officials have also decided to question some serving as well as retired officials of the Gujarat police in this regard, sources added.
Ishrat Jahan and three others — Pranesh Pillai alias Javed Sheikh, and two alleged Pakistani terrorists — were gunned down by the Gujarat crime branch police near Kotarpur on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.
The special investigation team (SIT), constituted by the Gujarat high court last year to probe the allegations of fake encounter, submitted its report last month. The SIT, in its report, maintained that the encounter was staged by the Gujarat police.
Sources added, “The agency will also collect ballistic report of the weapon used in the alleged killing of Ishrat and three others from the Gujarat police. The agency may compare the ballistic report, related to the weapon used in the alleged killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, with the report of weapons used in the 2004 killing of Ishrat.”
“There is a possibility of comparison between both reports following the allegations that Ishrat was also kept at the same farm house where Kauser Bi, wife of Sohrabuddin, had been kept before her killing,” sources said.
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‘Coast guards must check refugees’
Age Corespondent
New Delhi, Dec. 11
The Coast Guard needs to tackle the “strategic need” of checking the influx of “refugees” from Bangladesh and also anti-national activities in these border areas, the Parliamentary standing committee on defence has noted. In its report submitted to Parliament last week, the committee wanted “immediate action” on setting up a Coast Guard regional headquarters in Kolkata to tackle the problem.
“The committee during the course of deliberations have observed that the maritime states of Orissa and West Bengal are located adjacent to Bangladesh and of late there has been
a large number of refugee influx and anti-national activities in this area,” the committee noted.
“While taking note of the strategic and important location of the maritime states of Orissa and West Bengal, the committee is of the firm view that there is an urgent need to take immediate action with regard to setting up of regional headquarters (Northeast) at the proposed site in Kolkata so that the environment, sea-life and property are protected besides meeting the strategic need of checking the influx of refugees, anti-national activities and poaching,” the Parliamentary committee has noted.