Ahmedabad, July 22: The Ishrat Jahan encounter probe has got a new chief, the sixth since the Gujarat High Court began monitoring the case. But not a single arrest has been made even as Ishrat’s relatives blame more than a dozen police officers of carrying out a fake encounter.
“Two years plus six chairmen down the line…there’s absolutely no visible progress. We are disappointed and there is frustration too,” said Mukul Sinha, advocate for the encounter victims.
The 3-member SIT headed by Pramod Kumar was first dismantled by the HC and investigation was handed over to the RK Raghavan chaired SIT. Raghavan declined, saying he was overburdened with cases.
The court then appointed Karnail Singh, who was Joint CP, Delhi as chairman. He quit soon after, as he was transferred to Mizoram.
Maharashtra ADGP Satyapal Singh was then appointed chairman. Within a fortnight, he excused himself, stating language barriers in investigation.
The Court then appointed Andhra Pradesh IPS officer JV Ramudu as chairman, only to be told that he cannot take up the task because of ill health.
Finally, RR Verma, ADGP, CISF has now been asked to head the SIT probing the encounter. He is expected to take charge next week.
The Court says the Centre’s approach is very casual.
“Both the government of Gujarat and the centre are really not interested in getting to the truth of the matter,” said Mukul Sinha.
Interestingly, in 2009, the Central Government had filed an affidavit in the Gujarat High Court, stating that Ishrat and the three others killed had LeT links.
Only a fresh affidavit was filed showing a readiness for an independent inquiry. But since then, there has been little progress in the case despite monitoring by the High Court.
–Agencies