The Hindu : National : Human rights activists call on Javed's father

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Thursday, Jun 24, 2004

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National

Human rights activists call on Javed's father

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, JUNE 23. A six-member team of human rights activists today called on the father of Javed Gulam Muhammed Sheik alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, Gopinatha Pillai, at his Thamarakkulam residence this afternoon.Javed Gulam Muhammed Sheik was killed in an encounter with the Gujarat police in Ahmedabad on June 15.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Pillai said the activists led by Mukundan C. Menon offered to help him bring out the truth behind the shootout.

Mr. Pillai said the team invited him to explain the whole issue to leaders of various human rights organisations at Ernakulam on June 26. `I have accepted their invitation and will go there,' he said.

Mr. Pillai had worked as the Thamarakkulam Mandalam (panchayat) committee president of the Congress.But he said that the state unit of the Congress did not appear to be keen to pressure the Union Government to take steps to bring out the truth.He said only a CBI enquiry would help.

He said that it had not been proved that his son had been a terrorist. The Gujarat police had not been able to clearly identify the two persons who were killed along with Ishrat Jahan Shamim Raza and Javed Gulam Muhammed Sheik.Mr. Pillai said that it was difficult to believe the police version. He alleged that the police were trying to manipulate evidence to show that the killed persons were terrorists.

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