A team comprising activists, academicians and journalists visited the site of the police operation against alleged terrorists staying in an apartment in Jamia Nagar in the afternoon of 20.09.2008 (Saturday). Two alleged terrorists Atif and Sajid, along with Mohan Chand Sharma, an inspector of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell died in the operation while a third alleged terrorist was arrested.
On the basis of our interactions with the local residents, eye witnesses and the reports which have appeared in the media, we would like to pose the following questions:
1) It has been widely reported that in early August this year Atif, who is described by the Delhi Police as the mastermind behind the recent terrorist bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, underwent a police verification exercise along with his four roommates in order to rent the apartment they were staying in Jamia Nagar. All the five youth living in the apartment submitted to the Delhi police their personal details, including permanent address, driving license details, address of the house they previously stayed in, all of which were found to be accurate. Though the police is now denying the veracity of the verification form, Mr. Rehman, the caretaker of the flat, has vouched, on camera, that he accompanied Atif to the Police Station for the verification.
Is it conceivable that the alleged kingpin behind the terrorist Indian Mujahideen outfit would have wanted to undergo a police verification- for whatever purpose- just a week after the Ahmedabad blasts and a month before the bombings in Delhi?
2) The four-storeyed house L-18 in Jamia Nagar, where the alleged terrorists were staying, has only one access point, through the stair case, which is covered by an iron grill. It is impossible to leave the house except from the staircase. By all reports, the staircase was taken over by the Special Cell and/ or other agencies during the counter-terror operation. The house, indeed the entire block, was cordoned off at the time of the operation.
How then was it then possible, as claimed by the police, for two alleged terrorists to escape the premises during the police operation?
3) The media has quoted ‘police sources’ as having informed them that the Special Cell was fully aware about the presence of dreaded terrorists, involved in the bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, staying in the apartment that was raided.
Why was the late Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, a veteran of dozens of encounter operations, the only officer in the operation not wearing a bullet proof vest? Was this due to over-confidence or is there something else to his death during the operation? Will the forensic report of the bullets that killed Inspector Sharma be made public?
4) There are reports that towards the end of the counter-terror operation, some policemen climbed on the roof of L-18 and fired several rounds in the air. Other policemen were seen breaking windows and even throwing flower pots to the ground from flats adjacent or opposite to L-18
Why was the police firing in the air and why did it indulge in destruction of property around L-18 after the encounter?
5) The police officials claim that an AK-47 and pistols were recovered from L-18.
What was the weapon that killed Inspector Sharma? Was the AK-47 used at all and by whom? Going by some reports that have appeared (see ‘Times of India’, 20.09.08), the AK-47s have been used by the police only. Is it not strange that alleged terrorists did not use a more deadly and sophisticated weapon like the AK-47, which they purportedly possessed, preferring to use pistols?
We feel that there are far too many loose ends in the current story of the police encounter at L-18 in Jamia Nagar. We demand that a fair, impartial and independent probe into the incident be initiated at the earliest to answer the above questions as also any other ones that arise from the contradictions of the case.
Signed/- Shabnam Hashmi (Anhad), Satya Sivaraman (Independent Journalist), Manisha Sethi (Forum for Democratic Initiatives), Tanweer Fazal (Forum for Democratic Initiatives), Arshad Alam (Jamia Millia Islamia), Neshat Quaiser (Jamia Millia Islamia), Pallavi Deka (General Secretary, JNU Students’ Union)
Photo: A Street At Jamia Nagar
Good work done by the Delhi Police by killing and arresting the terrorists .I hope they will continue this performance. Let the criminals know who kill innocent people they will have to pay the price for their heinous acts.
And my appeal to all the people who are writing these type of articles and also believing it ,they should go to psychiatrist for a proper check up.
Dear All,
It’s good to know we are stand strong against injustice prevailing in our society, but what we can do with politicians who are real criminal and destroying our beloved country. Should we start an struggle to get rid of them and replace them with well educated and young generation. It’s petty to say, that our some of our top police personnel are realy having criminal mind which are dressed with police uniform, but actually they are canser for our conuntry.
I request to all the spread a message to our Indian brothers to stand up against those criminals who for a slight benefite, can sell our security to others.
P. Kumar
Undercover,
1) We still don’t know for sure whether these guys were IM
2) Yes. In Tuesday’s HT, the police has CHANGED its version. They say they SAW the two guys running (presumably from the front exit, which was heavily guarded by the police, as there’s no other way out) but couldn’t estimate who they were and why they were running. Check out page 2: exact same words. Now what kind of BULL is that? They could have caught the two VERY easily if they’d seen them running.
3) He is also responsible for dozenS of encounters. Mail Today has confirmed that postmortem reports revealed that he was shot twice from behind. The encounter lasted for more than 40 minutes. As a resident of the area, I can attest to that. There was plenty of time to use the AK.
4) Doubting ALL residents of the area just ’cause they don’t believe in the police is not at all smart. Their concerns need to be inquired into.
5) Dear bro, when there’s no other evidence other than “the police said so”, at least allow us the right to not believe in their claim until other evidence is provided.
I am not going to answer the self-generated persecution complex bit. Clearly, the Sohrabuddin case, or other cases highlighted by Yoginder Sikand anad many many others are non-entities for you. You are incapabale of empathizing with your fellow countrymen.
When a HIGH COURT calls the police the biggest gang of thugs, etc. in an OFFICIAL VERDICT, it raises much concern in my heart. The police is no saint, but you’d like to believe them on this. WHY? WHY THIS STORY?
Positive things? I live in Jamia Nagar. I smell the fear in people who live here. I know that EVERYONE is doubting the police’s story, not because they’re in denial, but because many have witnessed the incident firsthand, and there are many loopholes in their version. The greatest positive thing I can do is contribute in some way to pressure the police into making its evidence public. The people need to know the truth so that their faith is reinstated in the authorities.
Mahesh,
I can relate to your concerns, but the police did not take the local people into confidence before the attack. This goes against common sense and standard protocol. Also, post-encounter, they have not made any active effort towards dispelling “conspiracy theories.” Most people do not deny that MUSLIMS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORIST ATTACKS. We’re debating whether it was these particular Muslims: a 17 year old high school kid, a 3rd BA student who was hanging out with friends on the university campus while the encounter was on less than a kilometer away, etc.
There are many, many unanswered (35-40) questions.
Mahesh T on September 23rd, 2008 7:34 am
I just want to request Mr. Mahesh that the second majority of India is under threat with one reason or others, we have collective responsibilty to protect them, because they are our younger brother if we belive in our civilization. It’s very much surprising to know that our Vedic culture had gone whethe not practical in these days or we are at different logic which are having nothing to do with Vedic or Islamic culture.
We should not forget that in the era of Muslim rule over India, there was equal respect for our Hindus rajas and finally they have become two sides of a same coin. But when Christian British has come to India, from the very day, they had consprisy to destort our collective identity and they have applied this. This is the ruler who are actual emeny of Human beings on the surface of the earth. If you have eyes and mind, look around you and you would find what they are doing in the name of diplomacy. They are only ones who have made us slaves, not a Muslim ruler. Why we are not understanding the things. They can go any extent to get their goals fulfill.
And now Mr. Mahesh is asking the theories. what theory you are talking about dear. Who know Osama and how. there is only western media who are supplying us such a name and news and we Indian believing them as we believ Geeta and Ramayan.
When we people will wake up to these reality, when we can realise that these forces got humiliation at the hand of Ghandhi, Nehru and Patel and they will let you develop as you wish. They are the person who not forget even their children for their stomach, how you can imagine their words are true.
Requesting all irrespective of their profession, background and cast. Please go through the History written by our own secular people withouth and vested interest and know yourself the truth.
Wake up India Wake up.
Raj:
You wouldn’t trust your 100 Rs. with Delhi Police but you believe that people questioning the police story need to go to a psychiatrist? It seems a lot of Indians want just some people killed, no matter whom, to create a false sense of security around themselves. Till there is another blast elsewhere when we would probably need to kill some more folks.
Rather for arguing for a sensible policy to tackle this enormous challenge of terrorism facing India, we are letting our government get away with murder (literally) of all the innocents killed in terrorist attacks. Does killing these alleged terrorists would solve the problem of terrorism? Does it gives you confidence that further attacks have been prevented?
A question for the conspiracy theorists: if whatever the Delhi police is saying is all a concocted story, then why are they continuing to add so many details to the story? Like taking the terrorists to Manipal from where they allegedly transported the bombs, the lodge where they stayed, their Mumbai connection etc? As anyone knows, if you are concocting a story, then you better keep the details to the minimum. The more you add, higher the likelihood that you will be found out. If all that Delhi police wanted to do was to arrest/kill a few innocent youths and make them scapegoats to show to the public that they have solved the case, then their subsequent behaviour where they seem to be making a genuine effort to uncover the entire network is a bit hard to understand.
Well I think to rest everything in peace a CBI inquiry should be done in these incidents. If anyone is innocent he should have a chance in court to defend.
Rest said there can be no 2 thoughts that the truth always lies in between 2 extremes. There can be something fishy with these guys and there can be something in the police version.
All the more a federal agency is the calling need for the hour. A professional agency like the FBI having commandos for neat operations. Quick Trials and Justice with noone being harassed.
Mohan:
No one is saying that Delhi Police is concocting stories. However, should questioning their version of the story precede a psychiatrist visit?
I am all for investigations and due process. I have raised this issue many times at this blog that there has been a criminal lack of follow-up from the investigative agencies as well as the mainstream media after terrorist attacks.
I would be the happiest person if police is able to solve this case, catch the culprits, win convictions and then punish them according to the law of the land. In this case the onus is on the Police not otherwise.
Mahesh,
That’s where we started off. There was no need for all the accusations and stuff. That’s what we have been asking: a CBI enquiry. Refer to Prof. Ansari’s letter in the first post.
It’s funny how some people consider it patriotic to slam those who question the police on the issue of ‘encounters’ (while they themselves question the police on other issues), while the truth is that ensuring that the Executive does not violate the very principles our constitution is based on, is in fact among the highest forms of patriotism. In the original article, or in Prof. Ansari’s letter, are there any accusations? No. They’ve just raised concerns about the way the issue has been handled. And they’ve requested an inquiry into it through constitutional means, by constitutional bodies.
Mohib,
People here have suggested things like inspector Sharma being killed by the police because he probably knew too much, the two guys were allowed to run away as an alibi for future attacks etc. Frankly, that’s what I don’t understand. At least to me, police story seems far more credible than these conspiracy theories. If those two guys were allowed to run away, then why did they go and arrest them the next day and so many others subsequently? Oh, that’s just to persecute some more muslim youths. See, that’s the problem with conspiracy theories – you can keep changing them to fit any scenario.
I am not suggesting that the accused should be deemed guilty without a trial. Certainly not. But why cast aspersions on the police either without any evidence? There is an article today which says the students of JMI shouted “media hai hai” because of the way media has covered the investigation. Why? What wrong has the media done (that doesn’t mean I am saying Indian media is perfect – far from it. but I don’t see anything particularly wrong in the way they have covered the investigation so far).
@Mohib,
There is a new story doing the rounds now, which you may have picked up in your journalistic circles.
This story states that the police knew all along who the terrorists were, but the government did not want them to take action because they did not want to upset the minorities. Apparently, Delhi proved the tipping point, and then they started their crackdown.
The bottom line is that there are theories, and theories, we have to keep our heads on our shoulders and be objective.
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Folks,
We do need a watchdog for the bureacracy and police in India. Some (not all) are known to harass people to extract money from their families. Please remember what they did to Kanchi Shankracharya under Sonia Gandhi’s orders. He was arrested on Diwali and interogatted under horrible conditions. His assistants were tortured.
This sold out to the west and the papacy government did not even leave Kanchi Shankracharya who is an icon for Hindus. The poor Indian for this government is nothing, especially the Muslims since the Western masters of this government are fighting a crusade against the Muslims. They are trying to conscript Hindus in this crusade, given that they failed at the time of the Iraq invasion (remember the desperate attempts to get the armed forces to fight in Iraq)
Mohib, well said. totally agree.
after going thru all the responses i get the feeling that we are missing the forest for the tree. Can we all just take a breather and step back. even if the police is corrupt (to a extent) and media may be biased (has been blamed as such by one or the other party) but we should have faith in the system in our country. Our founders have built in checks and balances in the system that have served us so very well over the years. Even if the police has framed the poor chaps just because they are ‘MUSLIMS’ hey have to proove their guilt beyond resonable doubt in the courts. The hearing in the courts is not far and we can then get to see if the police do have the poofs to substantiate their claim.
Somebody raised the issue of Dr. Talwar – then you must also realise that he was released as the police (who had muddled the case) could not proove his guilt in the courts.
Also note that today we do not have draconian laws like TADA, POTA etc that can be used to harras the innocent. A confession extracted by the police while the suspect is in custody has no legal standing without corrobarating hard proof.
SO my dear countrymen just be patient and keep your feelings of victimization (conspiracy theroists) and vindication (supporters of police theory) in check. Becasue paranoia and hysteria are self feeding monsters that kill all reason and turn lucid, intelligent people into unreasonable and confused mobs.
I agreed with Vineet Sayings,,
But can you please tell the second largest majority of India how many cunturies they have to face court running to prove themsefl innocent in one case and another. One case is not solved, police is ready with another one . Between Court and Police Station, Muslim have their whole life. Can you please them who are vitualy in a prison like life, is there any artical in our constitution which stop police and media and politician from doing so.
Their life have been put between court and police station. Alas, they are citizen of so-called largest democracy of the world.
Since its a free country and anyone can talk anything.Also with the help of a so called vote bank – a seperatist group is supported by all major political parties.I swear that going by the incident of blasts – India will soon become Pakistan and will be a unsafe country thanks to the present govt
It is a known fact that indian police is corrupt to the core.So may cases,so many incidents..I request all to check this link..tehelka is not a muslim magazine..and in the past it brought out naked truth several times…please go thru the articles and then think..why would it always be muslim terrorists…
It is a shame….
http://www.tehelka.com/channels/news/2008/Sept/06/related_stories1.asp
please read this::
http://kafila.org/2008/09/22/a-little-less-melodrama-and-a-lot-more-forensics/
Just wondering if this is true or its a concoction of the Press
http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16662&issueid=74§ionid=30&Itemid=1
Zia-ur Rehman says…
“If Allah wants, I’ll bomb the market where my mother buys vegetables. She will be sent to paradise.”
“Whatever knowledge I have about Islam, I have no regrets about what I did.”
“My father told me I’m not his son. He doesn’t understand jihad for Allah, and nothing else matters to me.”
“I have no regrets about what I did, and the way I did it. Ask them to shoot me for this.”
“The jihad is against Maharashtra for ignoring the Srikrishna Report and what happened in Gujarat.”
Thats’ a terroist caught in action.
This is posting from the blog spot of a contributor to this site. These claim to be legitimate Indians and run blogs and also post on this site. Personally I think they may be planted but the message of hate/paranoia comes across very well……
“But what is our duty? The best course is to launch a mass movement now to end persecution and guarantee civil rights to Muslims and other minorities; otherwise a civil war, a military response against Modi and the RSS to save the Indian constitution and the Indian republic is imminent. Choose what you want…”
“Alhumdulillah this is how Allah punishes the Kafir!!!
The Hindu Indian Army has no morals as advocated by their dirty faith they follow. They are entrenched in vices and sins beyond imagination. And Alhumdulillah Allah is also swift in punishment. check the article below published in BBC!!
Alhumdulillah I am happy that the Indian Kafir Troops are dying this way, because they would be a burden on the country till they die Inshallah….”