Five years after the Batla House shootout of 2008 killed Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, the verdict in the case is expected to be pronounced by a court here on Thursday.
A lone suspect in the case, Shahzad Ahmad, reportedly a member of the Indian Mujahideen, has been facing trial for killing Sharma.
On July 20, Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri had reserved the verdict in the case after the police and defence concluded their arguments. Two defence witnesses and 70 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial.
The family of Sharma has demanded punishment for the culprits.
On Wednesday, Sharma’s 76-year-old mother, Devinder Devi, told a news agency that those responsible for the death of her son should not be allowed to get away.
“I don’t know who killed my son. But I never forget his martyrdom,” Devi said.
Sharma, who had won seven gallantry medals, including a President’s Medal, was gunned down during the Batla House encounter at Jamia Nagar on September 19, 2008, seven days after serial blasts rocked the national capital. It was suspected that members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) were hiding in a house in the area.
Sharma is survived by his parents, wife and two children.
He joined Delhi Police as a sub-inspector in 1989 and was instrumental in the killing of 35 terrorists and the arrest of another 80 militants, a Delhi Police officer said.
—IANS